New Book:Paths to Positive Aging: Dog Days with a Bone, and Other Essays, by Mary and Ken Gergen

We are pleased to present some of our favorite essays, drawn from the past 100 issues of this Newsletter. All are devoted to appreciating the later years as among the richest and rewarding of one’s life. We add a few photos from our own adventures in aging, and hope this little book can be inspiring for others. The book can be purchased on-line at: www.taosinstitute.net/paths-to-positive-aging-dog-days-with-a-bone-and-other-essays

Death: A Decision, not a DestinyGiven the emphasis of this Newsletter on positive aging, we do not often write about death and dying. In part this is because by most cultural standards it is very difficult to speak glowingly about these events. But as we were reminded by a recent article in the New York Times, we should be watchful about the ways our cultural standards limit our potentials. And the positive potentials surrounding death and dying may be vast.

In this case, the Times headlined the story of a man in hospice care who chose the date, time and means of his death. He also created a wake for his family and friends, one that he attended!. For us this was not only a story about a man who turned a period of relentless sadness into a celebration, but as well, a man who regained his dignity. Rather than treating himself as an anguished victim of an uncontrollable destiny, he decided for himself how he would end his time on earth.

Mr. Shields initially came up with the idea that on his last night of life, he wanted to have a celebration, to which his family and friends would be invited. The wake was held at his hospice, and efforts were made to redecorate an office suite to make it festive. His wife, his hospice staff, and other family members and friends organized the refreshments and the activities, which included poetry and song.

The next morning, John signed the papers that allowed the doctor to give him the medications that began with a deep sleep, and culminated in his death. John was clear that he did not want to continue on the inevitable path of his illness, which was full of pain and suffering. He was content that he had control of his death.

As more and more people live into a very old age, laws are changing and people are talking about how they wish to die more openly than in the past. In Canada, where John died, the law now allows people the right to decide how they wish to die. Interestingly in Oregon and Washington, states that allow elective death, people are often given the means to take their own lives, but choose to die a natural death. The choice is what is so important to them.

And creative impulses now blossom. Recently the owner of a Chinese restaurant told us that an old customer of hers was having a second wake for herself the following weekend. The first wake was three years earlier, when she was 85, but she now felt life was closing in. The internet is also providing means for people to share their last rites ceremonies, and allows family and friends to share their thoughts and memories of them, both before and after they have died. Death may be inevitable, but its meaning is up to us. Mary Gergen

From: The Death and Life of John Shields by Catherine Porter. The New York Times, May 28, 2017, pg. 1, 17-21.

The Significance of Support Convoys Researchers have created the interesting idea of support convoys. Convoys are the collection of supportive relationships that move with individuals through time, space and the life course. Here you might think for a moment about the individuals you would place in your “convoy.” Some convoys are more supportive than others; much depends on who is in them. The composition of one’s convoy has implications for one’s happiness and life satisfactions.

Some of the most interesting research on convoys has been on older gay men, many of whom have suffered from various forms of oppression throughout their lives. Their convoys prove to be very important to their well-being. In this research, 20 gay men between 60 and 83, living in Atlanta, were interviewed about their support convoys. Most of the men had gone to college, were middle class, and white. Each of the men was asked to name the most important people in their lives, and how close they were to them. From this information, the researchers created networks or maps, which helped them to evaluate the nature of the networks. The men were also asked to discuss the type of support they received from each member of their convoy and how satisfied they were with each person’s actions. From this information, the researchers evaluated each convoy as to its support.

These support convoys tended to be composed of friends who were also gay. Unlike older heterosexual men, for whom male friendships tend to be fairly unimportant and usually involve joint activities (e.g sports, music), emotionally based friendship is central to the support networks of gay men. Men who had more negative networks were involved with people who were heterosexist or homophobic. They often had to conceal aspects of themselves to relate to these people. Often they were family members, who had religious objections to a homosexual lifestyle. One participant said, “I have all these people around me, but very, very, very few people that I am really close to. I feel somewhat sad about that.”

For heterosexuals, family members tend to be the major members of support convoys. For men, male friends generally play a less important role in sustaining emotional support and care. However, women have more in common with gay men, in terms of relying on friends for emotional support.

From: Older Gay Men and their Support Convoys by Griff Tester and Eric R. Wright. Journals of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 2017, 72, 488-497.

Resources for Reducing Ageism From an Email sent by American Society on Aging President and CEO, Bob Stein to its members, and others who advocate for a better society for all:

The way Americans currently think about aging creates obstacles to productive practices and policies. In response, and in collaboration with seven other leading associations serving the field of Aging, ASA is pleased to share a set of resources designed to help members and stakeholders join a movement to reframe the dialogue around aging, with the goal of reversing ageist assumptions about older adults. Through a two-year research initiative, our collaborative has learned that as Americans live longer and healthier lives, society needs to adjust both attitudes toward aging and systems that support wellbeing in later life. Our Gaining Momentum Toolkit is now available so you and your organization can become part of the movement to reframe how the public views older adults. This work is SO important and our aspirations can only be achieved through large-scale adoption of the principals and tools we provide to you today.

Gaining Momentum, is what we call our new toolkit. The Toolkit is designed to help you and other aging advocates change the ageism narrative, using new guidelines for better, research-informed communications.

We invite you to explore and use the full Gaining Momentum toolkit which includes:

A full research and recommendation report, Finding the Frame: An Empirical Approach to Reframing Aging and Ageism

FAQs: Staying on Frame in Real Time – a list of common questions with guidance to help keep answers "on frame"

ReFrame Cards help advocates find the right metaphor and structure for reframed communications about aging

A Research Base and other resources Our work is not done and we remain committed to adding to, and enhancing, these resources to help all passionate professionals working in the field of aging join the movement, Reframing Aging.

Rebuilding at 90: The Road Runner Retired dentist Charles Eugster claims that vanity was the motivation for him to basically “rebuild” his body, beginning at 80. He described himself at middle age as “a self-satisfied lump of lard.” At 87 he engaged a leading body builder to help him re-sculpt his body. His physique changed remarkably. Then, after two years, he wanted to increase his strength and flexibility and so engaged Sylvia Gattiker, a former gymnast from Austria, to develop a program of strength building for him. At 90, he had achieved that goal.

He then went on to train for the track, and became a world class sprinter. (Winning prizes was not so difficult, given his age class.) Later he started to compete in the long jump, and has been doing well in that athletic venture.

He does not see himself as an exceptional person, but an average guy. “Two decades after I retired, I have transformed myself from feeling redundant, out of shape and effectively waiting to die into a fit and motivated 97 year old. …. We need to change our perceptions of aging. Society has put an expiration date on us and sees being old as an inexorable path to inactivity and physical decline. ….

Society needs to do more to engage my peer group and to not waste our talents and knowledge – and we older folks need to do more to reinvent ourselves too. “

As Confucius once said, “A man has two lives. The second life begins when he realizes he only has one.” As Mr. Eugster says, “It is time to start a revolution that isn’t anti-aging, but pro-aging.”

From: “The road runner”, The Next Act/Life Stories, Financial Times Weekend Magazine, April, 2017, pg. 44. Oldest Woman in the WorldSent by a Loyal Reader for our Enjoyment:Jeanne Louise Calment had the longest confirmed human lifespan on record: 122 years and 164 days.

Jeanne was born in Arles, France, on 21st February 1875. When the Eiffel Tower was built, she was 14 years old. It was at this time that she met Vincent van Gogh.

"He was dirty, badly dressed and disagreeable," she recalled in an interview given in 1988.When she was 85, she took up fencing, and she was still riding on her bike when she reached 100. When Jeanne was 114, she starred in a film about her life; at 115 she had an operation on her hip, and at 117 she gave up smoking (having started at the age of 21 in 1896). Apparently, she didn't give it up for health reasons, but because she didn't like having to ask someone to help her light a cigarette once she was becoming almost blind.

At age 90, she signed a deal to sell her apartment to a 47-year-old lawyer called Andre-Francois Raffray. He agreed to pay her a monthly sum of 2,500 francs on the condition that he would inherit her apartment after she died. However, Raffray not only ended up paying Jeanne for 30 years, but died before she did at the age of 77. His widow was legally obliged to continue paying Madam Calment.

Until the end of her days, Jeanne retained sharp mental faculties. When she was asked on her 120th birthday what kind of future she expected to have, she replied: "a very short one."

Quotes and rules of life from Jeanne Calment:

1. Being young is a state of mind, it doesn't depend on one's body. 2. I'm actually still a young girl; it's just that I haven't looked so good for the past 70 years. 3. Always keep your smile. That's how I explain my long life. 4. If you can't change something, don't worry about it. 5. I have a huge desire to live and a big appetite, especially for sweets. 6. I see badly, I hear badly, and I feel bad, but everything's fine. 7. I think I will die of laughter. 8. I have legs of iron, but to tell you the truth, they're starting to rust and buckle a bit. 9. I took pleasure when I could. I acted clearly and morally and without regret. I'm very lucky.

Too Young to be Old: Love, Learn, Work, and Play as you Age by Nancy K. Schlossberg. Washington, DC: APA, 2017.Nancy Schlossberg is a prolific writer, especially on the topic of living well as we age. Her most recent book is a swift and satisfying read, full of wisdom and encouragement for all of us. She addresses the evil of ageism and how to deal with it, especially as it affects one’s self-image. A discussion of transitioning - of the challenge of moving, health changes, family formations - is especially engaging. Stories of how various individuals both cope with and thrive with aging enrich the text, and bring the more abstract ideas down to earth. At the end of each section, she assigns a “To-Do List” to encourage action as well as understanding. The book concludes with the idea of re-creating the self, with a focus on family, fun, romance, and self-satisfaction.

In our book, Paths to Positive Aging, we asked Geert Mork if we could share a story of his life we had used in one of our essays. We wish to share Geert’s gracious reply:

“Thank you so much for your mail. I´m honored that you want to use the essay in your book. Thank you. Your Positive Aging Newsletter is such a huge inspiration for me and many, many others.

My meeting with social construction and appreciative inquiry about 10 years ago has changed my life dramatically. I have found peace and love – and thanks to Ken’s commentary, Nov/Dec 2012, I found Trine (again). You already know the story, but I would like to share with you, that during a daily focus on co-creation and on the words we use during our countless conversations, we have created a kind of deep love and understanding, that I, just a few years ago, not even dreamed existed. I almost died January 2011 during a 8 hour long cancer surgery and only a miracle saved me, the doctor told me. Given such a wonderful new life after that has been the greatest gift in my life. I´m deeply grateful to you and Ken and social construction for this."

Denise Chapman writes:I just wanted to send you a quick email on behalf of some of the students I volunteer with at The Brenham Community Center here in Texas. We've been reviewing some resources on the internet for a project about retirement and what people can do after they retire from their careers. We came across your page http://www.taosinstitute.net/2006-november-december and found it extremely helpful!

In the new documentary “If You’re Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast,” the comedian serves as tour guide to the still-vital lives of his friends.

Marie Villeza writes: Hi!...Some of the greatest partnerships I’ve ever seen have been between senior roommates. Whether it’s a married couple who’ve spent decades together or a pair of siblings who retired together, the care and consideration they always have for each other never ceases to inspire me. I think sometimes we spend so much time worrying about whether our seniors can take care of each other that we fail to see the amazing ways that they do.

Would you be willing to share some supportive resources for your senior audience? I think they’d be great not just for seniors who live together and care for each other, but for anyone who helps a senior loved one.

Stretching Exercises for Seniors to Improve Mobility 25 Easy Recipes for Senior Nutrition Home Modifications for Specific Needs The Boomer’s Ultimate Guide To Adding Value To Your Home

A New Open Access Journal Innovation In Aging. Oxford University Press. Academic.oup.como/innovateage July 23-27, 2017: World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics. San Francisco, CA. The theme is “Global Aging and Health: Bridging Science, Policy, and Practice.” This is the premier meeting for professionals in gerontology and geriatrics. A special treat: THE AGE STAGE. The program highlights the many ways creativity plays a role in aging. Three days of entertainment, music, dance, fashion, and the visual arts, plus a one-day tech track. Information at iagg2017.org/agestage

We hope that you enjoy The Positive Aging Newsletter. Questions & Feedback:If you have any questions, or material you'd like to share with other newsletter readers, please e-mail Mary Gergen at gv4@psu.eduPast issues:Past issues of the newsletter, including our translated issues in Spanish, German, French, Portuguese, Danish, Italian, Greek, and Chinese are archived at: www.positiveaging.netHow to subscribe, unsubscribe or change your e-mail address:

Celebrating the One Hundredth Issue We are delighted to announce that this is the 100th issue of the Newsletter. Our stated aim in the first issue, published 16 years ago, remains the same: “Our attempt is to recreate the concept and experience of aging. Challenging the longstanding view of aging as decline, we strive to create a vision of life in which aging becomes an unprecedented period of human enrichment.“ Such a revolution in understanding requires the creativity and support of many different communities. Gerontologists and life-span researchers, along with the many practitioners who work with the elder population can make a major contribution. But so can those of us who simply find that we are over 60; this group is on the cutting edge of creating a new way of life. The Newsletter is designed to reflect the voices of all!

We have been elated to find that the enthusiasm we have felt for this project has been so widely shared. The number of subscribers has continued to expand, and many send the Newsletter on to family and friends. Our greatest joy, however, has been in the fact that professionals outside the English speaking orbit have offered to voluntarily translate the Newsletter into their language. Thus, we are most deeply indebted to those who have made the Newsletter available in the following languages:

Current and past issues of the Newsletter, along with a portal for new subscribers, can be found at www.positiveaging.net

This is also to say that we deeply appreciate the contributions sent to us by readers who wish to share their work, their insights, or projects with a broader audience. As in the past, you are welcome to send suggestions to Mary at gv4@psu.edu

To reintroduce ourselves. Kenneth Gergen is a Senior Research Professor at Swarthmore College, and Mary Gergen is a Professor Emerita at Penn State University. Both serve on the Executive Board of the Taos Institute, and have a long engagement in issues of gerontology, social research, therapeutic practice, and social constructionist theory.

So, with the continuing support of all, the adventure continues! Ken and Mary Gergen

Plans, Wishes, and Successful Aging We have often reported in this Newsletter research showing that active engagement in the world is a major key to happy and satisfying aging. However, we have also noticed among our acquaintances people who slowly lose interest. They become content with the way things are, and don’t seem to have any special wishes, or make many plans. As research now shows, this loss of interest may also invite a loss of happiness and satisfaction.

In this research study, 649 people between the ages of 55 and 90 answered an online questionnaire about their personal plans and wishes. The study was voluntary, and those who answered tended to be of higher educational and income levels. 50% were men. The plans and wishes they reported were highly varied. However, most answers were related to desired activities, engagements and health. Over 50% mentioned special activities: Travel, hobbies, going out, physical activities, and intellectual challenges. A second category involved interpersonal relations and productive activity. Many mentioned wanting to contribute to society. Health goals came in a distant third. Only 10% of the respondents answered that they did not have any plans or wishes.

The respondents were also asked about their feelings about life. Did they feel they were having a successful and fulfilling period of life? As the results showed, the greater the number of plans and wishes, the more successful feelings one had about aging. Having many plans and wishes for the future was correlated with having a high level of satisfaction with life.

Yet, while such results suggest that it is important to stay engaged, letting wishes slowly become plans, what of those who are not so engaged? How do you start to wish, or make a plan, when you just don’t feel like it? At least one answer is suggested by the results of this study. As also found, those respondents with the fewest plans and desires had the fewest social contacts. The obvious advice for the unmotivated: nourish your social connections. It’s largely when you start talking with people that life becomes filled with interest, intrigue, and wonder.

Conversation Can Reduce Pain If conversation can stimulate interest in the world, what else can it do? Both of us have had experiences suggesting that conversation can reduce pain. Mary Gergen’s mother, who had chronic leukemia, once said to her doctor, “When Mary is with me, I feel like I am getting better.” In Ken’s hospital stay of last year, the most pain-free times of the day were visiting hours. Research now supports these observations.

In this case researchers were interested in the role of communication in the treatment of chronic back pain. In the first phase of the study, half the patients received mild, therapeutically oriented electrical stimulation from physical therapists, and half received sham stimulation (no electricity was actually received). Those with the full treatment, with electrical stimulation, reported a 50% reduction of their pain levels. Interestingly, however, even if you only thought you were receiving stimulation, there was a 25% drop in reported pain. (The blessed placebo effect.)

In the second phase of the study, half these patients were also engaged in a therapeutic conversation about their pain. Therapists asked open-ended questions, such as when the pain began, or when it was better or worse, and they listened attentively to the answers. They expressed empathy about the patient’s situation and offered words of encouragement about getting better. In the other half, a therapist barely spoke to them.

As the results showed, the conversation added an important boost in pain reduction – regardless of whether they had received the shock or not. For those who received the shock, and the conversation, pain reduction jumped from 50% to 77%. For those who mistakenly believed they had electrical stimulation, but did have the warmly talkative therapist, pain reduction was boosted from 25% to 55%. Clearly the medical treatment worked, but having warm and caring conversation gave a great boost to the outcomes. The take-away is that if loved ones have problems with pain, we can be their best medicine. And if we are suffering, we should seek that kind of company.

Ten Ideal Jobs for RetireesMost people who are retiring or planning to do so envision doing some kind of money-making work after they exit the full-time scene. Some people want to stay in the same professional arena, while others want to go further afield. One acquaintance wants to “give back” by doing something for others; another wants to give a new creative gig a try. Here Meghan Streit offers her opinion on 10 types of jobs that might fill the bill for those thinking of a new source of income when the retirement gong has rung.

1. Consulting: For those who want to continue close to the field in which they have worked, this may be the ticket. You can name your title, your hours, and your specialty. It’s important to think about what you can ideally contribute and others need. 2. Sharing Economy. Here Uber and Lyft are mentioned as possible ways to turn one’s love of driving into some cash. For others, perhaps Airbnb can help turn the guest room or a second home into income. 3. Direct Sales. One can earn money by selling things such as wine, home decor, or wellness products. 4. Tutor. For those who love teaching, tutoring and helping students with college admission processes may be attractive. 5. Dogwalker. Great if you are fond of dogs and love the exercise. 6. Financial advisor. Those whose career was in the financial industries might consider taking the CFP exam and working as an advisor. People skills and the enjoyment of making money for others are assets. 7. Garden store. Working seasonally at a local nursery or in a store could be perfect for a seasoned gardener, who might want to share the secrets of a green thumb. 8. Freelance writer/editor. Check out freelance writing sites to search for these jobs. 9. Tour guide. Especially if you love the historical aspects of your community and want to share it. 10. Transcriber. Transcription Outsourcing CEO, Ben Walker, indicates that his company hires people who have retired from legal, medical and law enforcement fields. Google the company to learn more.

From: 10 Ideal Jobs for Retirees by Meghan Streit. Erickson Living. December, 2016, pg. 2 Living Long, Seeing Well Being able to see well is one of the most important capacities of humans. Almost all of life activities, from close-up work on computers, or reading a book to driving, enjoying a pet, and playing a sport require clear vision. Yet, as we age, it is not uncommon for a foggy film to begin to encroach on our visual field. As many discover, they are developing cataracts. Once upon a time, this was an unfortunate experience, and required some pretty restrictive surgery. Today, such surgery takes place on an outpatient basis, with ease and little pain. Most cataract surgery is covered by Medicare insurance.

An important side effect of cataract surgery is that it helps people prevent falls. People who have had cataract surgery had fewer broken hips, which can be a game-changer in terms of a healthy and active life style. Of course there are other significant benefits of seeing well.

In order to benefit from this type of surgery, it is important to have regular eye examinations. Positive Aging Newsletter editor, Mary Gergen, had cataract surgery several years ago, and with her multifocal lenses sees like a 20 year old. It has been a blessing to be able to see so well.

From: Visions of Longevity by Erin Advedlund, Philadelphia Inquirer, Jan. 8, 2017, E3 Celebrating a life well lived: Katherine Johnson A portrait of Katherine Johnson - now 97 years old - in a recent Vanity Fair magazine depicts a feisty looking fashionably dressed woman, staring at the camera with a satisfied, slightly cynical smile on her face. What is particularly noteworthy about Dr. Johnson is that she was a NASA scientist, despite the double discrimination of being a woman and an African American!

Last year, President Obama awarded Johnson the Presidential Medal of Freedom. A new book, Hidden Figures, and a popular movie describe her rise from humble beginnings. Johnson graduated from high school at age 14. At age 15, she began attending West Virginia State College. As a student, Johnson took every math course the college offered. She graduated summa cum laude in 1937, with degrees in math and French, at age 18. In 1938, Johnson became the first African American woman to desegregate the graduate school at West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia.

After some time teaching, she applied to NASA, where she became one of the “colored computers” as the non-white women doing calculations were called. Through her mathematical brilliance, she rose up the ladder at NASA, and eventually was at the top of her profession. Her work at NASA involved calculating orbital trajectories and flight times of spacecraft. She did this work largely by hand, as computers were only beginning to be of service. John Glenn asked her to double check the results of the computer calculations. He only agreed to go if Johnson approved the flight plan. She also calculated Alan Shepard’s flight path and took the Apollo 11 crew to the moon, to orbit it, land on it, and return safely to Earth in 1969. She is now retired in Virginia.

The movie, Hidden Figures, is a wonderful rendition of her story, and that of her “colored computer” colleagues.

From our friend and colleague, Harry Moody, who edits the Human Values in Aging newsletter: I find myself more and more concerned about the future-- not my personal future, but about my new granddaughter, now six months old. What will the world be like when she is my age, in 2087?

If we do not believe that climate change is a Chinese hoax, then the outlook is not so good. It is sobering to think that people my age are the ones responsible for this, yet people her age will bear the consequences. It is easy to fall into despair, but that is not an alternative. I am Chairman of the Board of Gray Is Green, the National Senior Conservation Corp, and when I give talks about global warming, I often say "Despair is a form of denial." We all need what Joanna Macy calls "active hope," and every one of us can do our part, for "each age is a dream that is dying, or one that is coming to birth."

An article of mine, "Elders and Climate Change: No Excuses" will shortly appear in the journal Public Policy and Aging Report. For a copy of it, just send me a request at hrmoody@yahoo.comMary Fridley and her colleagues in NYC invite all who might wish to join a conversation on more Positive Approaches to Dementia. As they write: In September 2016, we had the pleasure of convening a panel discussion at the international conference, Performing the World, which asked the question, “Can we create a new performance of dementia?” One of us, Susan Massad, is a retired physician with a lifelong interest in the social-cultural-biological dimensions of health and wellness. The other, Mary Fridley, leads a play and improv-based workshop series, “Laughing Matters,” for seniors and others in NYC and across the country.

The panel grew out of conversations we’ve been having with people – professionals and non-professionals – around the U.S. and globally who are challenging the traditional (medicalized) beliefs and assumptions about aging, memory loss and dementia. In particular, there is a growing challenge to the notion that dementia is a condition of the individual, with the individual (rather than family, community, broader society) as “object of treatment” and a condition of “loss” that has a relatively predictable and steady downhill progression. It has been gratifying to meet so many others who both recognize that people with dementia are social and creative and embrace the power of group activity to transform the social isolation and stigma associated with dementia.

On the PTW panel, we were joined by two of these colleagues, both of whom run successful arts-based dementia programs, and the wife and primary caregiver for a man with dementia. It seems clear to us that people of all ages are eager for new, more positive and humanistic ways to bring people together around dementia, so we are looking for people from all walks of life (and especially those who live and/or work in poor communities or communities of color) who would like to be part of this conversation. If you are interested, please contact us through Mary at mfridley@eastsideinstitute.org.

We look forward to hearing from you, and to continuing to build a more healthy and developmental world!

Pamela Mangene writes: I just received my first edition of your newsletter. My writing partner and I signed up for it when we first started our blog on positive aging a couple of months ago. I was thrilled to see that you reported on some research we had also used in one of our posts. I love the idea that thinking good, positive thoughts can actually be translated into longer life. Here's a link to our blog post. http://richlyaged.com/new-years-revolution-positive-aging-new-paradigm/

Please pass it on if you think your readers would be interested.

I also want to tell you how much I appreciated your commentary on spirituality and life beyond planning. We're all at the age where things can change in an instant. Oddly enough, I had a friend call this afternoon to tell me that her husband and our dear friend had died on Monday. My mother who died this past year just one month short of her 90th birthday, used to tell me that life brings us things we can't handle by ourselves, and that's why we need God! Spirituality - in whatever form - adds perspective and helps us "go with the flow" as you so wisely suggest.

Many thanks for all the good Info in the newsletter. I'll be looking for it in the future.

Margaret Crowley wrote to describe the nature of a senior residence called Brookdale in West Palm Beach, FL., where she lives. Ms. Crowley, who developed and managed a senior residence facility for many years, interviewed various staff members, in order to try to find the core of the success that living in Brookdale entails. She listed the following:

1. Awareness: Each resident feels known from the beginning of their involvement with Brookdale, and this feeling continues throughout their stay. 2. Collaboration: Staff works together to give their best to the residences. 3. Heart-Centered Care: A focused compassionate presence is felt by the residents, as they interact with any member of the staff.

To characterize the feeling of living there, “Here I awake each day knowing that I am receiving care in my home from people with generous hearts, competency in their areas of responsibility, and a spirit calling forth peace and tranquility.”

Past issues of the newsletter, including our translated issues in Spanish, German, French, Portuguese, Danish, and Chinese are archived at: www.positiveaging.netHow to subscribe, unsubscribe or change your e-mail address: New subscribers can join by visiting:www.taosinstitute.net/positive-aging-newsletteron the right column, you will see a blue box that says – “Click here to Sign Up” – fill in the form with your information. To change or unsubscribe send an e-mail to:info@TaosInsitute.net

Spirituality and Life Beyond PlanningOne thing we learn as we grow older is that planning has its limits. Regardless of our best, rational efforts to set things in a promising direction - in relationships, professional life, economically, or socially – unexpected things happen. Recently I was intrigued by a commentary by Jacob J. Staub called “Spirituality and Well-Being,” published in the Philadelphia Inquirer. The theme of the column treated the efforts of humans to control their destinies, and the futility of trying to do so. As the old Yiddish proverb goes, “Humans plan, and God laughs.”

In order to deal with the unexpected twists and turns that create havoc with our carefully planned lives, Staub suggests we explore a spiritual approach. A spiritual sensitivity may not change our situation, but it can help us to move more fluidly through the disappointments. In Staub’s terms, spirituality is an awareness of the mystery that underlies all of existence and a sense that all things are interconnected. Spirituality is not necessarily about God, and does not require any belief in supernatural interventions. The spiritual sensitivity he described can be found among Buddhists, Sufis, Cabalists, humanists, and ecologists as well. One of the important emphases in a spiritual orientation is the view that we are not in control of our destinies. Staub notes that people in recovery programs know this, but they are not the only ones who should. We should all be more prepared to “go with the flow,” feeling that we are all part of something much greater and more significant than our individual lives.

A spiritual approach also encourages us to recognize and appreciate our good fortunes. These too may be unpredictable. Recently at a memorial service, the widow remarked that she and her husband talked constantly of how lucky they had been to have experienced so many good years together. And too, because of the emphasis on the connection of all things, spiritual traditions kindle appreciation for our relationships, and a compassion for those who suffer. We received a card during the Thanksgiving season from a friend who lost both her husband and her son one day apart last December. The card carried this quotation from Epictetus, “He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.” She wrote, “How lucky I have been, what beautiful memories I have, and how fortunate I am to have such very good friends. I am thankful and grateful.” This is a sentiment we should all share at this special time of the year.

Think Good Thoughts and Live LongerIn previous issues of this Newsletter we have reported several studies that strongly indicated a close relationship between optimism about aging and increased longevity. The present research adds weight to this view, and further fills out the picture. Here the researchers were interested in stereotypes about retiring. Some people fear retirement, what they will lose, the boredom, the indirection, and so on, while others see retirement as a gateway to new interests and adventures. This study assessed such views among a group of 1,000 people before their retirement. The research focused particularly on their positive and negative expectations, both in terms of physical activities and mental dispositions. The group was then followed for another 23 years. The question was whether their positive or negative stereotypes about retirement would be related to their longevity. In fact, the relationship was strong. In the case of psychological capabilities, those who viewed life after retirement positively added two and a half years to their life-span over those more negatively disposed. For those who were confident in their physical condition after retirement, four and a half years were added. Their confidence in the future was realized in a more positive future. These findings persisted in spite of age, gender, race, marital status, employment status, years of education, work attitudes, functional health, and self-rated health at the outset of the study

From: Retirement as Meaningful: Positive Retirement Stereotypes Associated with Longevity by Reuben Ng, Heather G. Allore, Joan K. Monin, and Becca R. Levy, Journal of Social Issues. 2016, 72 69–85. Intergenerational Approaches to DementiaRecently we had an opportunity to visit an intergenerational school in Cleveland, Ohio. We listened and watched as elderly volunteers participated in the educational process. They helped in tutoring, teaching literature, sharing personal history, and guiding the children in visits to local sites. Many of these volunteers had also been diagnosed with dementia. As research reveals, programs such as these are highly beneficial to older people. The present study reviewed the evidence on the impact of intergenerational activities – such as the Cleveland school - on older adults with dementia. Ten studies were examined for their results.

Overall, it was found that intergenerational approaches had a substantial impact on quality of life of the elderly. They experienced a reduction in stress, reduced agitation, improved cognitive functioning, and better memory. Further, they were more constructively engaged in activities and had better social interaction. Most important for the development of intergenerational programs were the effects on relationships. For one, there was a shift in children’s attitudes and acceptance of the elderly. They were less prejudiced and less prone toward stereotyping/infantilizing the older people with dementia. Such acceptance, in turn, provided an opportunity for the older adults with dementia to form genuine friendships in a “non-medicalized” environment. Taking a constructive and productive role in society increased self-worth, and enhanced their status as contributors to the community.

This review suggests that there is excellent potential for the use of interactive programs across generations as a cost-effective strategy for slowing the process of cognitive decline, promoting well-being for older adults with dementia, and increasing social capital. For educators, older volunteers with diverse cognitive capacities may provide a rich resource of staff to support and encourage the children.

From: Is There Anything Special About Intergenerational Approaches to Older People with Dementia? A Review by A-L. Park. Journal of Alzheimers & Parkinsonism, 2014, 4, 172. doi: 10.4172/2161-0460.1000172

Who Looks to the Future: The Young or the Old?It is commonly believed that as we age, we tend to spend more time looking backward as opposed to forward. Unlike the young, with their nose to the window of the future, the elderly are more likely to ruminate about the past. Researchers at George Mason University set out to discover whether this is indeed true. In this study researchers spoke with more than 100 adults every day for 19 days. They asked the interviewees what they were thinking about, and whether it was about the past or the future. Surprisingly, the results indicated that older adults did not focus more on the past than younger ones. In fact, they were more likely to be thinking into the future than the younger folks.

From: Older adults think more about the future than young adults do. Monitor on Psychology, September, 2015. Pg. 18

A Modeling Career Begins at 80And here we mean a new career for a male! Wang Deshun has been called “China’s hottest grandfather,” in a newspaper account of a recent style show. Bare chested, strolling down the runway, he has become an idol for many Chinese. Determined to avoid mental and physical stagnation, Mr. Wang has explored new skills and ideas while devoting ample time to daily exercise. Last year, as he walked the runway for the first time, his physique causing a national sensation.

Wang takes obvious joy in subverting China’s image of what it means to be old. And old age in China begins relatively early. The legal retirement age for women is 50 for workers and 55 for civil servants, and 60 for most men. Being older in China typically means being respected, but also, often, sentimentalized. Someone as young as 50 may be addressed as “yeye” or “nainai” — grandpa or grandma — regardless of whether they have offspring. Mr. Wang is having none of that. “One way to tell if you’re old or not is to ask yourself, ‘Do you dare try something you’ve never done before?’

Mr. Wang said he was always athletic. An avid swimmer as a child, he still swims more than half a mile each day. “Morning is my learning time,” he said. “I read books and news. From 3 to 6 p.m. is my exercise time, in a gym near my home.” He also drinks less alcohol now, he said, but that is about as far as his dietary restrictions go. “I am not picky at all about what I eat. I eat whatever I want.”

Mr. Wang was born in the northeastern city of Shenyang in 1936, one of nine children of a cook and a stay-at-home mother. At 14, a year after the Communist Party came to power in 1949, he began working as a streetcar conductor. At the Workers’ Cultural Palace in Shenyang, he took free lessons in singing, acting and dancing. He later took a job at a military factory and joined its art troupe, which entertained soldiers. Later he worked in radio, film and theater.

“People can change their life as many times as they wish,” he said. “Being mentally healthy means you know what you’re going to do….For example, a vegetable vendor, when he wakes up, he has a goal, he works hard. And when he finishes, he feels fulfilled.” For Mr. Wang, fulfillment comes in many forms: acting, modeling, exercising and creating art. And one day soon, he said, parachuting. That is the plan.

Sweet Charity: Older People Give MoreAlthough there are many problems with research using MRI brain scans to study social behaviors, it is interesting to note research that supports a positive view of aging. In this case, Dr. Ulrich Mayr and his colleagues at the University of Oregon studied 80 university employees ranging in age from 18-67. The researchers scanned the volunteers’ brains while they watched money being given either to charity or to themselves. The scans showed different levels of activity in the brain believed to be related to pleasure. Among those over 45, the brain’s pleasure areas tended to become more active when they saw money donated to charity. In contrast, the younger people had more arousal when the money went to themselves. Dr. Leonardo Christov-Moore, from UCLA, who studies altruism said, “You become more benevolent, more altruistic as you get older.” Research also supports this view: over half of all donations to charity are made by those over 60. Perhaps there is truth to the old adage that it is more blessed (and more satisfying) to give than to receive.

We are indebted here to our reader, Marie Villeza from the Elder Impact, for sending us these excellent resources for healthier living. As Marie writes: Lately I’ve been devoting my focus to senior health — especially since only 28-34% of Americans aged 65-74 are physically active.

I’ve had the opportunity to speak with some of the elders in my community, and they said although they do want more physical activity, they feel limited in their options. Fortunately, inspiring others to get on their feet is my specialty! I’ve gathered some terrific resources on ways for seniors to lead happier, more active lives, but I need your help distributing them. What do you say — how about here?

My book, Something to Think About: The Challenges and Opportunities of Living and Aging can now be purchased through Amazon or electronically on Kindle as can my previous work, Education for Being..

This book is a compilation of essays written monthly for the newsletter, Healthwise, of the Stein Institute for Research on Aging at the University of California, San Diego when I was the Executive Director.

While much is written about the negative aspects of the aging process, these essays paint a more positive picture and relate more to the renewed opportunities for growth and development that aging can bring. Enjoy.

We often give workshops on positive aging. This is a letter sent to us by Beverly Gans (and shared here with her permission), after a recent workshop in Cleveland with Peter Whitehouse: Dear Peter, Mary and Ken,

I thoroughly enjoyed your talk last night. You may have wondered why I was grinning throughout, but made no comment. You were describing my mother, the most positive ager I know...though there are many like her, and they are the reason why I am looking forward to my seniority.

Mom is 95, living at Stone Gardens (assisted living), her decision entirely. She drove until two months ago (sometimes to Chautauqua for a day, by herself) when she decided it was time to sell her car. She works as a secretary (volunteer) in three Menorah Park offices: volunteer, hospice and development (where she works for one of my former colleagues!) She is more technologically proficient than anyone in her age group or even 20 years younger, teaches herself new knitting and crocheting techniques via YouTube, reads constantly, attends all lifelong learning courses offered by the Rose Institute, recommends to staff field trips for herself and her friends, sits on several planning committees, and loves the new Brain Health Institute, enjoying coloring books and beading in her not very spare time.

I love to be invited to dinner at Stone Gardens because Mom and her friends engage in lively conversation, and even when they have physical problems, which they do, they buck each other up and soldier on. Mom fractured her pelvis 4 months ago. It galvanized her. She rehabbed like her life depended on it and was walking again in two months.

The minute I left you I called her to tell her not only how proud she makes me, but how her perspective on and her attitude toward aging fills me with excitement about my future years. I know that with her as my role model, I will age positively.

I just subscribed to your newsletter and Mom and her friends will do the same, after I tell them all about you and your work! Thank you for reinforcing Mom's life lessons.

The American Society on Aging (ASA) Conference takes place March 20-24, in Chicago, IL.

ASA is always looking for new models, innovative programs and research-to-practice presentations for the conference. This is a fabulous opportunity to share your program developments and new ideas with this conference community of nearly 3,000 multidisciplinary professionals who, like you, care about improving the lives of older adults. www.asaging.org/aia

The Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE), GSA's annual meeting and educational leadership conference is taking place March 9-12, 2017 in Miami Marriott Dadeland. This is the premier international forum for discussing ideas and issues in gerontological and geriatric education. The theme for 2017 is "The Future is Here: Educating a New Generation of Professionals in Aging Worldwide." www.aghe.org/events/annual-meeting

Questions & Feedback: If you have any questions, or material you'd like to share with other newsletter readers, please e-mail Mary Gergen at gv4@psu.eduPast issues: Past issues of the newsletter, including our translated issues in Spanish, German, French, Portuguese, Danish, and Chinese are archived at: www.positiveaging.netHow to subscribe, unsubscribe or change your e-mail address: We hope that you enjoy The Positive Aging Newsletter.

Colors of AutumnThe senior years are the autumn years, or so it is commonly said. In the same way the leaves of summer slowly fall to the ground, we are invited to see elders losing capacities, shriveling and succumbing. The general invitation for the older person is thus to be content in falling away from life. While there is a certain beauty in this metaphor, research suggests that it can also be deadly! As we become content in winding down our physical activities, social life, involvement in institutions, entertainment, and so on, so is our happiness reduced and our life shortened. In effect, there is much to be admired about contentment, but if it means inactivity it can be dangerous.

In this season of the American election, we think here of a 94 year-old neighbor of ours. She seemed content with the life she had led and the prospects of a looming death. But she was a voracious reader of political news. She also subscribed to off-beat news sources so she could “see behind the veil” of more popular news reporting. Almost to the end, if the two of us wanted to have a discussion of cutting edge developments on the political scene, she was our “go-to” lady. For us this also means joining in projects without asking if they can necessarily be completed in one’s lifetime. As research suggests, it is life giving to join in the enthusiastic pursuit of various goals. Which is to say, engagement in pursuing a meaningful goal can itself contribute to your reaching this goal.

Perhaps we need a new way of thinking about equating autumn with the senior years. Rather than disengagement, let’s focus on the profusion of glorious colors that accompanies the fall. These are years in which we are free to express ourselves as never before, to explore facets of life for which there never time or circumstance. George Bernard Shaw had it right: “We don’t stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing.”

Diseases in Decline: Good News for AgingAn interesting phenomenon is gripping the attention of the medical community: Major diseases, such as heart disease, dementia and colon cancer are waning, and it isn’t just because the medical treatments are improving. Why this is happening is called a mystery, with many possible reasons for these changes to explore. However the mystery is solved, it is good news for people as they age.

The major killers of cancer, heart disease, and stroke remain, but they are occurring later in life. As a result, people are living longer in good health. Colon cancer rates have been declining since the early 1990’s. The rate has fallen by nearly 50% since the 1980’s. Stomach cancer has also been significantly reduced. One possible explanation for these changes is the decline in eating meats that have been smoked or salted. Another disease in decline is tuberculosis (once the most dominant killer). In 1900, 1 in 170 Americans lived in a TB sanitarium. Now the disease is practically extinct. Possible reasons include improvements in public health and sanitation. As well, hip fractures have declined by 15-20% over the past 30 years. One explanation is that people have become heavier. Heavier people have stronger bones. (And more padding if they fall!) Dementia has taken a drop as well, with a 20% decline per decade starting in 1977. The chances of getting dementia have been greatly reduced. One explanation is the increased education level of the adult population, along with more numerous medical interventions, such as controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and exercise.

According to Dr. Steven R. Cummings, UC, San Francisco, “Perhaps all these degenerative diseases share something in common, something inside aging cells themselves. The cellular process of aging may be changing, in humans’ favor.” From: A Medical Mystery: Diseases in Decline by Gina Kolata. New York Times. July 10, 2016, SR 7.

Telling Your Story: Discovering Your SelvesA variety of practices have emerged in recent years in which elders are invited to review and share the stories of their lives. Professionals point to many gains to be made from these explorations. Story telling gives dimension to one’s life, reminding one of the many activities in which one has been engaged, and giving them positive value. Storytellers can create and discover new metaphors, images memories. Contradictions can also be revealed, enhancing one’s wisdom and empathy. When others listen with care, a sense of significance is also added to one’s life. Often the result of sharing life stories is a reduction in depression, a greater feeling of connection with others, and improvement in one’s sense of mastery. In some cases storytellers even go on to write auto-biographies. They realize that their stories may contribute to future generations. While joining in professionally organized practices may be fulfilling, there is also an invitation here for sharing and listening together.

Sex and the Single SeniorNursing homes across the country are increasingly exploring the potentials of sexual conduct as part of individualized care. Many had already loosened daily regimens to give residents more choice over what time to bathe or what to eat for dinner. The next step for many is to allow residents the option of having sex, and to provide support for those who do.

Daniel Reingold, the president and chief executive of RiverSpring Health, which operates the Hebrew Home, said, “Growing old was all about loss: vision, hearing, mobility, even friends. Why should intimacy have to go, too? “We don’t lose the pleasure that comes with touch,” he said. “If intimacy leads to a sexual relationship, then let’s deal with it as grown-ups.”

The nursing home came up with a sexual expression policy in 1995 after a nurse walked in on two residents having sex. When the nurse asked Mr. Reingold what to do, he told her, “Tiptoe out and close the door behind you.” Before adopting the policy, the Hebrew Home surveyed hundreds of nursing homes in New York and elsewhere, only to find that “most of them even denied that their residents were having sexual relationships,” Mr. Reingold recalled. Today, the sexual expression policy is posted on the home’s website. Mr. Reingold said it was intended not only to encourage intimacy among those who want it, but also to protect others from unwanted advances and to set guidelines for the staff. For instance, the policy stipulates that even residents with Alzheimer’s can even give consent, under certain circumstances, for a sexual relationship.

Intimate relationships can mean more drama for the staff, which tries to keep up with who is together and who is not. The dining room can be a land mine. Sometimes, one member of a couple will get jealous when the other pays attention to someone else. Other couples become too amorous, prompting calls to “keep it in your room.” Still, Eileen Dunnion, a registered nurse who has three couples on her floor, said she encouraged her patients to take a chance on a relationship, reminding them, “You get old, you don’t get cold.”

The Hebrew Home has stepped up efforts to help residents looking for relationships. Staff members have organized a happy hour and a senior prom, and started a dating service, called G-Date, for Grandparent Date. Currently, about 40 of the 870 residents are involved in a relationship. In the past year, a dozen people signed up for G-Date. Half of them were matched by social workers and sent on a first date at an on-site cafe. None found love, though some became friends. “We’re not giving up,” Charlotte Dell, the director of social services, said. “We’re going to get a wedding out of this yet.”

Francine Aboyoun, 67, is waiting to be set up through G-Date. She said she remained hopeful that she would meet someone. While living at another nursing home, she met a man who would come to her room at night. Though they did not have sex, they kissed and lay together in her bed. “Wow, it felt like I was young again,” she said. From: Consenting adults at nursing homes by Winnie Hu, New York Times, July 19, 2016.

Life Balance: 7 Tips from the ExpertsA cartoon shows an old fashioned telephone on a table. “In the old days, we just did one thing at a time, and we took our sweet time about doing it.” Today, we so often find ourselves cramming as many things as possible into our days – and evenings - so that we are more productive (or so we feel). Taking time to rest, reflect, have some fun, swing in the hammock may seem wasteful, and even something to feel a bit guilty about. This effort to do it all, all the time, often leads to a sense of agitation and emptiness, and questions arise to alternatives. Psychologists who have studied these issues have developed some strategies for rebalancing our lives, and feeling better as a result. Here are 7 of them:

Practice mindfulness. One way to engage in this meditative practice is to develop a reflective habit of checking in on ourselves several times a day. Am I feeling good or not?

Look for silver linings: In negative situations, look for benefits. Especially effective for women, the goal is to see something reasonable, temporary or enriching about a difficult period. Lowering expectations or downgrading one’s goals are less effective strategies.

Try to boost one’s positive emotions. One way to do this is through expressing gratitude on a regular basis.

Engage one’s social support. Trying to go it alone is not the most effective way to rebalance one’s life. It may take a village to raise a child, but it takes a few friends, family members and others to give one a boost now and then.

Get moving. Exercise is a great game changer when you need an emotional lift. Exhaustion may seem to call for a couch, but better to take a little run around the block to perk up one’s body.

Go outside. Running around the block or better yet in a park brings you closer to nature. Being in touch with the earth improves mood, attention, feelings of well-being and cognitive capacities.

Meaningfulness. When we have the sense of extending ourselves beyond our own immediate concerns, of engaging with others in meaningful ways, of doing some good in the world, we often give ourselves a sense of centeredness.

New Experiment in LGBT Elder HousingAmong the alternatives for older people looking for senior living residences, one option remains quite rare. That is, housing that welcomes non-heterosexual people. Especially for single, older people, social isolation can be depressive, and homophobic prejudices are common in traditional senior residences. One fascinating alternative is Mary’s House for Older Adults, Inc. in Washington, DC. The projects offers a model of friendly, affordable communal housing for the LGBT population.

A member of the National LGBT Elder Housing Movement, Mary’s House creators have developed a special communal housing model. The house strives for a family-like setting, with people of different backgrounds sharing common space, as well as having their own private areas. Each resident will have a room, with a bathroom, closet and small basic kitchen. The common areas will include a computer room and library, yoga/family room, laundry, and hydrotherapy tub, with a green garden and rooftop walking path. Residents will be offered health and welfare activities, transportation, and access to broader community resources.

Given the nature of America’s individualistically-oriented culture, applicants for residency to the house will receive training in communal living prior to being accepted. The course will include ways of being courteous, connecting with others, communication skills, cultural sensitivity, as well as learning the house rules about such things as cleaning up, and sharing spaces.

The first house will open in November, 2017 in Washington, DC. For more information contact Imani Woody, CEO of Mary’s House for Older Adults, Inc. in Washington, DC. info@maryshousedc.org or visit www.maryshousedc.org

A new and enriching website for older men: THE THIRD ACT PROJECT: OLD GUYS ON THE ART OF AGINGThe Third Act Project (www.thethirdactproject.com), a wide-ranging resource for older men, is now live online. The Project’s goal is to create a community of men to share ideas that apply directly to their experience of aging. Visitors and members of the Project are exposed to essays and poetry, art and photography, and conversation in which men share the details and issues of their lives in the third act. “It’s not mostly about facing aging and death,” a Harvard professor wrote. “It’s about being our age, with whatever lessons we’ve learned and haven’t learned and mysteries we still wonder about and puzzles we’ll probably never solve.”

The Project is an outgrowth of a men’s group formed more than a decade ago to gather regularly for discussions about what it was like to be growing older. For some, the principal issues were sexual; for others, physical change and a fear of limited possibilities in life were primary sources of preoccupation. All had concerns about the ultimate condition of their brains and cognitive wherewithal. “Over time, we have evolved from a discussion group to a bunch of guys who simply enjoy being together several times a year,” says William N. Davis, an original member of what he calls “Oldies But Goodies” and also co-founder with Sam Bittman of The Third Act Project.

Ronnie Tower writes:Dear Mary and Ken, I am delighted to share with you news that Miracle at Midlife: A Transatlantic Romance will be published October 25, 2016 by She Writes Press. My memoir describes two years that began when I was 52 and allowed me to radically alter choices and events that followed. In other words, at mid-life I changed the scripts I had been consciously and unconsciously following to make space for other parts of my self to develop and flourish. Because I was trained as a clinical and research psychologist, the book is deep in introspective observations and musings.

Now, at 72, I am again altering my life. By becoming an author, I am discovering new territory, both the whole foreign industry of commercial publishing and a whole new world inside of stories that beg to be shared, hopefully inspiring others to live with courage and integrity.

I would be delighted if you would share news of my memoir with your readers. As a fan of Positive Aging Newsletter since it began, I have enormous respect for its high level of content and its breadth. Your readers are my dream audience. I know that you have the book itself but additional information about me and about it are on the website below.

Histories of Healthy Ageing (CfP, Conference, University of Groningen, The Netherlands, (21–23 June 2017) Although we may think the interest in healthy aging is a modern concern, when longevity increased by 40 years since 1900, we are quite wrong. The topic of how to live the “healthy life” has been important to philosophers and others back to the beginnings of recorded history. This conference focuses especially (but not exclusively) on the pre-modern period. Submissions for 20-minute papers should include a 250-word abstract and a short CV. Please send submissions by email by 01 December 2016. Subject to funding, small travel grants might be available for junior researchers. See http://centreformedicalhumanities.org/histories-of-healthy-ageing-cfp-conference-university-of-groningen-21-23-june-2017/

In Western culture aging is typically viewed as a period of decline. Few look forward to “being old,” and vast sums are spent on avoiding the appearance. However, the common view of aging is a cultural construction. The negative stereotype is being challenged by the steadily expanding ranks of older people. At the same time, there is little in the way of a successor image currently available, and particularly an image that can inspire new and more flourishing forms of life. The two of us have been engaged for some years in attempting to reconstruct the vision of aging as an unprecedented period of growth and enrichment. This vision of positive aging also has significant implications for the health and well-being of the aging population. After describing our efforts at reconstruction – in writing, performance, and a web-based newsletter – we discuss and integrate a wide-ranging array of relevant research. We emphasize the need to celebrate the joys of aging, along with the fruits thereby produced.

Questions & Feedback:If you have any questions, or material you'd like to share with other newsletter readers, please e-mail Mary Gergen at gv4@psu.edu

Past issues: Past issues of the newsletter, including our translated issues in Spanish, German, French, Danish, and Chinese are archived at: www.positiveaging.netHow to subscribe, unsubscribe or change your e-mail address:New subscribers can join by visiting – www.taosinstitute.net/positive-aging-newsletter - on the right column, you will see a blue box that says – Click here to Sign Up

COMMENTARY:

Traveling Dark ValleysFor Mary and me, an orientation toward positive aging is not simply about staying on the bright side of life. It also means finding ways of traveling through the dark valleys of life without falling into despair, and discovering meaning even in the shadows. For me the past three weeks have been largely a journey through such a valley. A long-needed heart valve was replaced, and the surgery left me with pain, lost abilities, and many tedious and grim hours. I had never experienced serious surgery before, so I found myself without resources to move through this world in anything approximating a positive way. Slowly, however, with Mary as my conversational companion, I began to find some ways of confronting the daily challenges. I share five of these here, in hopes that others might find them useful:

Choose your comparisons: “How am I feeling” is a question frequently asked by others and myself. It is not an insignificant question, because how I answer can often affect my mood. The most important point is that “how I am feeling” can only be answered in comparison to some standard. Choosing the standard is crucial! If I use the standard of my pre-op life, I am plunged into a hole. I feel terrible! And, because there are many ups and downs across the days of recovery, it is important to select that moment that will allow me to draw a positive conclusion. “Compared to yesterday at this time….”, “Compare to last night when it took the nurse four tries to draw blood…” If I am careful to select the right moment of comparison, the day is that much brighter.

Friends and family are invitations to exit myself. When I am alone, my focus often remains on myself…conscious of each ache and pain, each sign that things may be going amiss. I live in a world of grey to black from which it is oh so difficult to imagine myself otherwise. Friends and family are powerful invitations to exit this pit. The important point is to shift the conversation as soon as possible away from myself, to their lives. As they speak about their dramas, I exit myself. I am caught up in their lives, living vicariously in worlds of significance and hope.

Search for the soft. One major problem with being a surgical patient, is the radical reduction in human touch. Not only did I resist others’ touching, feeling fragile as a patient, and fearful that one untoward touch would undo my incisions. But as well, visitors in general were very careful and tentative in their approach. Perhaps it is the caring security that accompanies touch, but its loss is significant. Thus I began to search for any form of garment, toweling, or other soft material – a substitute, for sure, but far better than nothing. For me, the gift from the gods came in the form of a luxuriously soft, faux fur throw, a gift from my son and daughter-in-law. It has been a constant companion.

Enjoy the returns to childhood. The idea of maturity is frequently equated with autonomy. To grow up, is to learn self-sufficiency. This seems especially so for us males. Becoming a patient is thus akin to losing one’s maturity. There is the silent but repeated echo, “You are such a baby…” But such thoughts were debilitating; the situation only became worsened. So, a reflection: what a wonderful opportunity to enjoy again some of the joys of immaturity! It was also gratifying to find that Mary, and the many others upon whom I have leaned, actually found meaning in this transition.

Forgive yourself. Before surgery I painted a picture of convalescence in which I would bask in the luxury of having time for activities too often shoved aside in the rush of daily life – reading, listening to music, catching up on correspondence, and the like. Thus, when I found myself after surgery little able to concentrate, continuously exhausted, and lacking any ambition, my initial impulse was self-criticism. I was turning into a vegetable! Then a reflection: were my hopes not just another repetition of the life-long voice on my shoulder, equating worth with productivity? The voice was now my enemy. I was later surprised to find how easy it was to enjoy a nap whenever needed.

I suspect that readers could offer many more, and possibly far better, ways of moving more resiliently through such dark periods. I often think there should be an international web-resource where people could share their many –otherwise private – ways of dealing with loss, depression, illness, and the like. Such a vision is itself uplifting.

Ken Gergen

RESEARCH:

Sweat Smart: Physical Activity and Mental AcuityA new study from researchers at UCLA has found additional evidence that physical activity is closely related to mental capacities. The Cardiovascular Health Study, begun in 1989, has followed almost 6,000 older people. The participants fill in forms regarding their medical and intellectual states, their lives and physical activities, and they also receive MRI scans of their brains. Looking at the data from the past ten years for 900 participants who were at

least 65, the researchers first calculated levels of physical activity for the entire sample, based on their answers to questionnaires. As the results showed, the top 25% of people who were most active also had the most gray matter in the memory and higher level thought parts of their brains (as revealed by MRI scans). And too, those people who had more gray matter had 50% less risk of having memory problems five years later. Of course, in itself this doesn’t show that the physical activity contributed to grey matter, but it strongly suggests the possibility.

A second finding was more compelling: those people who had increased their physical activity within the past five year period showed notable increases in gray-matter volume in those parts of the brain. This finding is also important as it suggests it’s never too late to improve one’s brain. One can begin exercise tomorrow, with hope for cognitive improvement. Cyrus Raji, the leader of the study, suggested that physical activity is a very helpful way to avoid mental deterioration. In this study physical activity included gardening, ballroom dancing, walking, jogging, bike riding, and other physical pursuits. Interestingly, many of the physically active people in the study were only engaged in their sports and active hobbies a few times a week. So, it doesn’t seem necessary to have a grueling schedule of physical activities to keep mentally fit.

The “Once a Week” Rule for SexTired or not, having sex with your long-term partner is a good idea. In one relevant study, surveys of more than 25,000 Americans collected over four decades found that one’s feelings of well-being tended to increase with sexual frequency with a partner, up to once a week. However, it didn’t seem to enhance these feelings if a couple had sex more than that. This study also found that there were no differences between genders in terms of sexual desire, and the “at least once a week” benefit applied regardless of the age of the couple or the length of their relationship.

In a fascinating variation on this study, researchers were interested in the degree to which a partner was motivated to have sex by his or her partner’s wishes. Calling this a “sexual communal motive”, they looked at the daily experiences of long-term couples for three weeks. They found that individuals who are motivated to meet their romantic partner’s sexual needs experienced sexual benefits for themselves. For one, their own sexual desires increased. Wanting to please the other stimulated romantic feelings. Researchers found that men were more likely to satisfy their partner’s sexual desires than women were, and the longer a relationship had lasted, the more willing partners were to satisfy their mate. This willingness was unrelated to sexual frequency, whether they had children or the age of the partners. In sum, disclosure about sexual needs, wants, and desires seems to be an important way to promote sexual communal strength in ongoing relationships. Letting your partner know that you’re interested in sex can be mutually rewarding.

IN THE NEWS:

Give 15 Minutes, and Save a Life, Even Your OwnThe 150-minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous exercise set in the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans could be too much for some older adults. It could indeed discourage people from exercising. So proposed Dr. David Hupin, Department of Clinical and Exercise Physiology, University Hospital of Saint-Etienne, France. At the same time, for people over age 60, meeting these guidelines for moderate-to-vigorous exercise has been linked to a 28 percent lower risk of dying over 10 year period.

In the current study, Hupin’s team looked at whether less exercise could be beneficial. They analyzed data from past studies covering a total of 122,417 men and women between the ages of 60 and 101 in the U.S., Taiwan and Australia. The studies evaluated participants' physical activity levels and their risk of dying from any cause over 10 years. They also factored in participants’ self-reported health status, physical or mental illnesses, weight, cholesterol and other details.

As the results showed, both men and women benefited from some exercise. Older women, especially showed a greater benefit from some exercise. In the low-exercise category their mortality risk decreased by 32 percent, compared to men’s 14 percent. One reason could be that women underestimated their exercise level and men overestimated theirs, the authors write.

“Scientific evidence is now emerging to show that there may be health benefits from light physical activity and from replacing sedentary activities with

light intensity activities,” Hupin said. “People must become less sedentary: cooking or working at a standing desk, rather than sitting. Dr. Hupin believes that even 15 minutes a day of brisk walking, cycling or swimming could help older adults live longer.

Aging is What You Make of ItIn the Sunday Review section of the New York Time on May 1, 2016, Gerald Marzorati wrote an article, “Practicing for a Better Old Age.” In it, he lamented his aging self, and mused that taking up tennis might help him to age more gracefully. His unenthusiastic tone prompted readers to resist. On May 9, several letters were published that seemed to rebut the major thrust of the article. Here are some of the highlights:

“Gerald Marzorati at 63 is missing an important point. Aging isn’t just about losing capacities and about saving them with a new activity like tennis. It’s also about accepting and deepening who you are and using what you have to continue to learn and grow. ….Rather than a sense of loss, aging has brought many gratifications. I feel wiser and calmer. I think that this comes from consolidating a lifetime of experiences and using them to take you forward to face whatever challenges the next years will bring.” Sara Seiden.

“Gerald Marzorati sounds more like a Debbie Downer than a guru on aging….Having survived cancer at an earlier age, I learned how even bad circumstances can be transformational and lead a person further down eternity’s road….I was also fortunate to have a number of positive role models for aging well. I remember my mother, who cleared snow from her sidewalk at 90. I never heard her complain about getting old….Indeed, a few of our presidential candidates are age roles as they undergo the rigors of a national campaign in their 60’s and 70’s, inspiring those much younger to trust them to run the country for the next four years.” Rebecca Fahrlander.

“In 1996, when I was [61] I was just entering Peace Corps preservice training in Moldova. My husband and fellow trainee was 70. We felt like teenagers. After our close of service and for the next 19 years, we spent our ‘old age’ participating in activities like an archaeological dig at a site in Romania, work exchange programs in Ireland, Scotland, Croatia and Albania; home exchanges in Madrid and Amsterdam… I earned a master’s in English and American literature; he played in two bands.

My husband died 10 weeks ago at 89 of a stroke, until then as alert and ready for adventure, as he was when I met him. If you feel old at 63, Mr. Marzorati, how will you feel at 80, 85, or 90?” Lee Norris

“I’m doing Ping-Pong and less running. (I’m 93).” Barbara Rosenthal.

From: Aging is what you make of it. New York Times Editorials/Letters, May 9, 2016.

Teaching Yoga at 97Taao Porchon-Lynch, 97, is a yoga teacher in Scarsdale, New York. She actively engages in easily moving into all the yoga positions, and can even suspend herself above the floor, supported only by her arms. “Feel your whole body singing out, and hold,” she encourages her students. She has been teaching yoga for decades, but that is not the only activity in which she engages. Before this class she had spent two hours doing ballroom dancing. In her 80’s she began competitive ballroom dancing and has even appeared on “America’s Got Talent”. Her partner for some dance competitions is 70 years younger than she.

Her mother died giving birth to her on a ship in the English Channel in 1918 near the end of World War I. Originally raised in India by an aunt and uncle, she traveled widely as a child. At 8 she began practicing yoga. Her father was from France, and she lived there during World War II. She and her aunt hid refugees from the Nazis as part of the French resistance movement. Later in London she became a cabaret dancer, and learned English with a friend, Noel Coward. She hung out with famous people, including Ernest Hemingway and Marlene Dietrich. She marched with Gandhi and later Martin Luther King, Jr. as a protester. Her philosophy seems to be, “Whatever you put in your mind materializes. Within yourself there’s an energy, but unless you use it, it dissipates. And that’s when you get old.”

She has had three hip replacements in her day, and gets around driving in her Smart car. She is a longtime widow with no children. She attributes her long life to keeping her energies flowing, and waking up each morning with the positive attitude that each day will be her best. She is a vegetarian and a wine lover, and believes in wearing high heels.

From: Longevity Pose by Corey Kilgannon, New York Times, June 5, 2016, 4.

BOOK REVIEW:

Disrupt Aging: A Bold New Path of Living Your Best Life at Every Age, by Jo Ann Jenkins (2016). Perseus Books.

In her new book, Jo Ann Jenkins, the CEO of AARP, has written about challenging the negative stereotypes that permeate the air we breathe. She describes birthday cards she received on her 50th birthday:

“Happy 50th _You’re now officially over the hill.”

“Relax! Turning 50 doesn’t mean you’re an old geezer… It means you’re a young geezer.”

“You’re not losing it – you’re just not using it as often.”

Jenkins notes the tension that arises as people desire to live a long life, but without getting old. We do live longer, healthier and more productive lives, which is wonderful, but we also change in terms of our bodies, our appearances, our interests, and our skills. How do we manage our new selves? From her perspective these are important ideas about aging:

Aging is just living. There are ups and downs, just as there have been in other times of life.

There are 100 million shades of gray. What Jenkins means is that people age differently depending on their gender, race, ethnicity and also locale, educational level, and income.

Older people are contributors, not burdens. Often the argument is made that older people are a drain on the economy. She argues that older people account for more than $7 trillion in U. S. annual economic activity.

Bonus time. Because of our longer life expectancies and technological advances, many of us will have 30 bonus years of growth and exploration. Herein lie exciting opportunities.

READERS RESPOND:

Ashton Applewhite writes:“This Chair Rocks”: A Blog by Ashton Applewhite I’ve written a book. I blog about it. I have a Q & A blog called Yo, Is This Ageist? (Go ahead, ask me.) I’ve written a consciousness-raising booklet. And I speak widely. All tools to help catalyze a movement to make discrimination on the basis of age as unacceptable as any other kind. https://thischairrocks.com

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

August 25-27, 2016: International Conference on Positive Aging. Washington, DC., Capitol Hilton, Sponsored by Society of Certified Senior Advisors and Fielding Graduate University

August 8-9, 2016: International Conference on Aging and Gerontology. Las Vegas, Nevada.

Information for Readers:

We hope that you enjoy reading The Positive Aging Newsletter.

Questions & Feedback:If you have any questions, or material you'd like to share with other newsletter readers, please e-mail Mary Gergen at gv4@psu.edu

]]>http://www.taosinstitute.net/2016-april-june2016 January - Marchhttp://www.taosinstitute.net/2016-january-marchWed, 20 Apr 2016 05:00:00 GMTContent DeveloperDownload the newsletter in PDF format: Issue_96_Positive_Aging_Newsletter_Jan-March_2016.pdf THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER January - March, 2016 The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net) “THE BEST IN…INSIGHTS IN AGING” Wall Street Journal Join us at our new interactive website Positive Aging in Action – at: www.positiveaginginaction.org Issue 96 In this issue: COMMENTARY: A New Turn in the Newsletter RESEARCH: Focus on the Po...]]>Download the newsletter in PDF format: Issue_96_Positive_Aging_Newsletter_Jan-March_2016.pdf THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER January - March, 2016 The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net) “THE BEST IN…INSIGHTS IN AGING” Wall Street Journal Join us at our new interactive website Positive Aging in Action – at: www.positiveaginginaction.org Issue 96 In this issue: COMMENTARY: A New Turn in the Newsletter RESEARCH: Focus on the Po...Download the newsletter in PDF format: Issue_96_Positive_Aging_Newsletter_Jan-March_2016.pdf

THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTERJanuary - March, 2016

The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net)

A New Turn in the NewsletterWe first wish to clarify the mission that has guided this Newsletter for the past 14 years. Our primary aim has been to bring to light resources - from research, professional practice, and daily life - that contribute to an appreciation of the aging process. Challenging the longstanding view of aging as decline, we strive to create a vision of life in which aging is an unprecedented period of human enrichment.

Such a revolution vitally depends on the communities of research and professional practices that focus on adult populations, especially people over 50. It is within these communities that new ideas, insights, factual support, and practices of growth enhancement can congenially emerge. By focusing on the developmental aspects of aging, and the availability of relevant resources, skills, and resiliencies, research not only brings useful insights into the realm of practice, but creates hope and empowers action among older people. By moving beyond practices of repair and prevention, to emphasize growth-enhancing activities, practitioners also contribute to the societal reconstruction of aging.

The readership of the newsletter has expanded over the years, including both professionals and the public. With help from Associates of the Taos Institute, the Newsletter is now translated into seven languages. Alan Robiolio, our friend and colleague, has been translating our newsletters into French since 2004. In Argentina, a brother-sister team, Marco and Christina Ravazzola, have been doing our Spanish edition since 2005. Our Portuguese edition has been produced by Eurídice Bergamaschi Vicente; our Germen edition by Anne Hoffknecht and Thomas Friedrich-Hett. Our Danish translator is Geert Mørk. In China, we have one translator for the mainland, Liping Yang and one for Taiwan, Su-fen Liu. We are so grateful to each of them. Past archives, of both the originals and the translations are available at www.positiveaging.net

Now we are pleased to announce a new turn in the development of the Newsletter. Our much valued colleague Samuel Mahaffy, had been reading the Positive Aging Newsletter for some time, and he liked very much the message we were sending out to thousands of people about the potentials of positive aging. Samuel also saw the possibilities for going far beyond our dreams, and asked us to consider allowing him to reform the presentation to allow more interaction between our readers and ourselves. The result of these discussion is the new web resource Positive Aging in Action (www.Positiveagingnewsletter.org). Please have a look, try out a few of the features, and enjoy the new opportunities that the website provides. Also invited are opportunities for readers to make contributions, and to exchange ideas. As we said, if there is to be a transformation in our ideas and practices of aging, communities of sharing are essential.

Focus on the Positive, for Health and Well-beingOver the years, we have published many findings that point to the positive effects of focusing on what is positive about aging. The present line of research from the Yale School of Public Health adds important dimension to this conclusion. As this research first suggests, older individuals who are exposed to positive stereotypes about aging show improved physical functioning that can last for several weeks.

The study, published in Psychological Science, consisted of 100 older individuals (average age 81 years). The researchers used a novel intervention method in which positive age stereotypes (such as “spry” and “creative” ) were flashed on a computer screen at speeds that were too fast to allow for conscious awareness. Individuals exposed to the positive messaging exhibited a range of psychological and physical improvements that were not found in control subjects. They benefited from improved physical function, such as physical balance, which continued for three weeks after the intervention ended. Also, during the same period, positive age stereotypes and positive self-perceptions of aging were strengthened, and negative age stereotypes and negative self-perceptions of aging were weakened.

“The challenge we had in this study was to enable the participants to overcome the negative age stereotypes which they acquire from society, as in everyday conversations and television comedies,” said lead researcher Becca Levy. “The study’s successful outcome suggests the potential of directing subliminal processes toward the enhancement of physical function.”

While it has been previously shown by Levy that negative age stereotypes can weaken an older individual’s physical functioning, this is the first time that subliminal activation of positive age stereotypes was found to improve outcomes over time. The study found that the intervention influenced physical function through a cascade of positive effects: It first strengthened the subjects’ positive age stereotypes, which then strengthened their positive self-perceptions, which then improved their physical function.

The study’s effect on physical function surpassed a previous study by others that involved a six-month-exercise intervention’s effect with participants of similar ages.

In other research by Levy related to Alzheimer’s Disease, similar findings indicated that people who hold more negative views toward aging show more evidence of brain deterioration associated with dementia than their peers who hold more positive views. This is the first study to demonstrate that a culture-based risk factor could predict the development of Alzheimer’s Disease. As Levy surmised, to avoid the onset of this disease, "It would be great to bolster positive age stereotypes in everyday life.”

Sustaining Cognitive PerformanceIn one fascinating study, brain researchers discovered that brain deficits did not mean a loss in cognitive performance. According to researchers at the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Rush University, in Chicago, autopsies on brains of older people showed that some people with extensive signs of cellular neuropathologies (a negative brain condition) had good cognitive abilities; while many who had few signs of pathology were cognitively challenged. Why the disconnect? This question could not be answered by brain science. A lot could be learned, however, by paying attention to how we thrive in everyday life.

What kinds of activities are likely to insulate us against decline in cognitive abilities? Perhaps no surprise to readers of this Newsletter, physical exercise is high on the list. Also significant is social interaction; isolation and inactivity are a threat. Interesting as well are paying attention to responsibilities, and finding a sense of purpose. Or, one might say, pursuing some goals in life inhibits decline. In this light, David Bennett, MD, director of the Rush center, suggests that the focus of attention for the medical professions should be on prevention of cognitive decline, not cures. We need to build capacities to withstand various factors of decline.

Other research does suggest a range of activities that can positively affect brain functioning. A good diet is important in increasing levels of protein, and reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s and strokes. Supportive social activity and educational experiences can also enhance the presence of this chemical in the brain. They seem to encourage new neuron growth and support the formation of synapses. There is a strong tendency to see our brains as our destiny; however, it also appears that we have a strong influence over our brains.

From: The brain fights back: New approaches to mitigating cognitive decline by Bridget M. Kuehn, MSJ. JAMA, December 15, 2015, pg. 2492.Rebuilding Capacities through SchoolingTraditional research paints a picture of aging as a period of cognitive decline. More recent evidence is mounting that most of this decline may simply be a matter of activity. If the brain is a muscle, fitness means exercise. Nor is it ever too late to regain what has been lost. This is at least one conclusion from a study in which a group of Australian psychologists recruited 359 participants ages 50-50 to return for a year of full-time or part-time study at the University of Tasmania. The participants took a series of cognitive performance tests both before, during and up to three years after their school experience. The tests measured cognitive capacity in areas such as memory, information processing, decision making and planning. Most of the students took courses on campus, but some completed online classes. The courses ranged widely, including history, psychology, philosophy and fine art. The study participants, were screened to exclude people who had dementia.

As the results showed, schooling can make a difference.

More than 90 percent of the participants displayed a significant increase in cognitive capacity, compared with 56 percent in a control group of 100 participants who didn’t take any college courses. As lead researcher Megan Lenehan, PhD. commented, “The study findings are exciting because they demonstrate that it’s never too late to take action to maximize the cognitive capacity of your brain,”

Enhancing Transitions to Retirement Retirement can be a period of enormous opportunity. However, for many people, especially those who thrive on active and influential life-styles, life seems diminished. Periods of monotony and boredom loom. Regardless of whether one has been a mega-boss or a creative contributor, some transitional planning is important to do. It is important to figure out a way to both leave behind the excitement of work, and develop a new lifestyle that is the right blend of meaningful activity and freedom. Newly sprouting organizations are now helping in planned transitioning.

As management consultant, Leslie Braksick commented, upper level managers " found it difficult to know what to do" after their professional work ended. Braksick’s company, My Next Season, provides companies with transition programs for retiring top executives. They match executives with nonprofit organizations for volunteer executive assignments, and donate back 20 percent of its fees to the nonprofit. My Next Season puts executives through comprehensive health evaluations, interest exercises, conversations with spouses or partners, ghost writing services for publishing articles on the client's expertise, and personalized networking.

"To go from 100 miles an hour to zero was frightening," said one client, and having this transitional job "helped allay my fears. I'm finding myself quite consumed by very interesting projects to think about on the social side. On the business side, I've had way more overtures about opportunities than I expected."

Other programs provide valuable services, even if not gold-edged. For example, the program RSVP, formerly known as Retired and Senior Volunteer Programs (seniorcorps.org) offers some 600 locations in the U.S. with volunteer programs. Betsy Werley, for example, is network expansion director Encore.org, an organization that offers programs for retiring workers looking to engage with nonprofits. Encore now offers fellowship programs with $25,000 stipends in about a dozen cities. It also partners with the Executive Service Corps (escus.org), which has locations in about 20 markets. All of these programs can have substantial value as people retire and consider next steps.

Creative Aging: Fulfillment through PlaywritingThe creative yet challenging process of playwriting is attracting many older adults. They learn how to blend characters, plot, and action into dramatic works that actors love to perform and audiences love to watch. The writers’ communication skills flourish in the revision process and in collaboration with actors and directors. The writers’ sense of fulfillment also comes when their play is published, such as those in the ArtAge Senior Theatre Resource Center.

One older playwright is Florida-based Arthur Keyser who, at age 87, has 12 of his plays published in the new book, Short Plays by the Dozen. Arthur wrote his first play in 2010, after he retired from being a corporate attorney. Each of Arthur's plays is unique with distinctive characters and plots. If there's a common thread, it's optimism. The pieces are filled with modern characters in up-to-date situations who use humor to express a fresh, positive outlook on life.

ArtAge's Senior Theatre Resource center is the largest distributor of plays, books and materials for older performers. With customers around the world, Arthur Keyser's work will be staged by Senior Theatre companies, community theatres, and other sites where older adults perform. His works are also featured on www.seniortheatre.com, the most comprehensive information source for older performers.

Howard Millman, former Producing Artistic Director of the Asolo Theatre, Sarasota, Florida, says, "Beginning a new career in playwriting after turning 80 doesn't compute, but Arthur defies the odds. His plays are funny, optimistic and a joy to watch." Gary Garrison, nationally known playwright, teacher and Executive Director, Creative Affairs of the Dramatists Guild of America said of Arthur, his "successes as a playwright, which first emerged in his eighties, are a wonderful testament to the truth that a passion for the craft knows no age and creative juices can continue to flow indefinitely."

Short Plays by the Dozen is available from ArtAge Publications at 800-858-4998

ArtAge helps participants fulfill their theatrical dreams by providing education and resources of the largest collection of Senior Theatre plays, books, and materials through our e-newsletter, and website www.seniortheatre.com.

Fruitful Aging: Finding the Gold in the Golden Years, 2013, Wakan Books www.drtompinkson.comAuthor Tom Pinkson has served as a physician and clinical psychologist for many years. He has also spent many years studying indigenous peoples, especially by engaging in a lengthy shamanic apprenticeship with Huichol shamans in Mexico. His book is a compilation of the wisdom and joy that can be the culmination of a life lived long. Unlike many books on positive or successful aging, his is not focused on evading the aging process, or being the youngest old guy on the block, but is geared more to an acceptance of a body transforming from fit middle adulthood to diminishing old age. The book also accepts that social power, youthful identity and losses of various sorts accumulate. Still, without the body beautiful of the youngish old, or the social cache of someone once a “big wheel”, he finds a harvest of gold in the Golden Years. As he proposes, each person’s life story is different. The particular challenges of one’s aging are different, and the rewards also come in different ways. “Dream with clear intention for the fullest blossoming of your inner flowers. Then do your best to live it out.”

The book is heavy on spiritual messages, mediations, ideas about love, acceptance, meaning-making and being a part of the universe. Here are some of my favorite moments in the book:

When entering into any task, any encounter, no matter how mundane or messy: “This may be the last thing you ever do in this life…. This may be your ‘last dance’, so do it with full presence, full awareness. Do it the best you can. Take it all in, and finally, find a way to enjoy it.”

“Aging is an art form.” James Hillman.“Do not live an unlived life.” Gene Cohen“Until one is over 60, one can never really learn the secret of living.” Andrea Sherman and Marsha Weiner.

“It is not about doing holy things. It is about making what you do holy.” Meister Eckhart, 13th century

“Meaning and purpose … evolve out of relationship and ongoing interaction with others, with ourselves and with that which is greater than our individual concerns.”

The book contains exercises, inviting one to reflect and to act consciously about one’s life. One suggestion involved placing inspirational pictures around your living space to remind you of your intentions to create a meaningful life, full of love and gratitude. Others involve Recognition Rites Honoring Elders for their value in social life.

The American Society on Aging (ASA) Conference takes place March 20–24, 2016 in Washington, DC. ASA is always looking for new models, innovative programs and research-to-practice presentations for the conference. This is a fabulous opportunity to share your program developments and new ideas with this conference community of nearly 3,000 multidisciplinary professionals who, like you, care about improving the lives of older adults. www.asaging.org/aia.

August 25-27, 2016 The 8th International Conference on Positive Aging will be held in Washington, DC, sponsored by Fielding Graduate University and its Creative Longevity and Wisdom Program. Proposals are due by Apr. 20, 2016. For more about this year's conference, and registration details, visit: http://www.csa.us/?page=PositiveAgingConf

Questions & Feedback: If you have any questions, or material you'd like to share with other newsletter readers, please e-mail Mary Gergen at gv4@psu.edu

Past issues: Past issues of the newsletter, including our translated issues in Spanish, German, French, Danish, Portuguese, and Chinese are archived at: www.positiveaging.net - How to subscribe, unsubscribe or change your e-mail address:In each newsletter you receive in your inbox, there is an “unsubscribe” link. Please use that link if you wish to unsubscribe.New subscribers can join by going to:http://www.taosinstitute.net/positive-aging-newsletter

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]]>http://www.taosinstitute.net/2016-january-march2015 Nov/Dechttp://www.taosinstitute.net/2015-novdecWed, 30 Dec 2015 06:00:00 GMTContent DeveloperDownload the newsletter in PDF format: Issue_95_Positive_Aging_Newsletter_Nov-Dec_2015.pdf THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER November/December, 2015 The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net) “THE BEST IN…INSIGHTS IN AGING” Wall Street Journal Announcing: POSITIVE AGING IN ACTION A new and exciting development of the Positive Aging newsletter is in motion. Under the leadership of our friend, colleague, and mentor Samuel Mahaffy, w...]]>Download the newsletter in PDF format: Issue_95_Positive_Aging_Newsletter_Nov-Dec_2015.pdf THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER November/December, 2015 The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net) “THE BEST IN…INSIGHTS IN AGING” Wall Street Journal Announcing: POSITIVE AGING IN ACTION A new and exciting development of the Positive Aging newsletter is in motion. Under the leadership of our friend, colleague, and mentor Samuel Mahaffy, w...Download the newsletter in PDF format: Issue_95_Positive_Aging_Newsletter_Nov-Dec_2015.pdf

THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER
November/December, 2015

The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net)

“THE BEST IN…INSIGHTS IN AGING”
Wall Street Journal

Announcing: POSITIVE AGING IN ACTION
A new and exciting development of the Positive Aging newsletter is in motion. Under the leadership of our friend, colleague, and mentor Samuel Mahaffy, we have launched a website, Positive Aging in Action (positiveagingnewsletter.org). In addition to our Newsletter content, the website will include up-to-date news ideas, reviews, announcements, and other resources on positive aging. We are excited about the addition, and hope you can find it useful and inspiring.

Placing Process over Product
As we move into a New Year, many of us pause and reflect on the condition of our lives. Often these reflections turn to matters of achievement. What have we accomplished during the past year, or indeed, in a lifetime? We may ask the same about our children, sometimes basking in the reflected glory of their achievements. While this focus on accomplishment is commonplace, seldom do we stop to ask “why this focus?” Why not ask, for example, about the beauty of our lives, our relations to nature, or whether our feelings or opinions are fully expressed? Some may ask these questions, but the fact is that most of us have spent almost a lifetime being evaluated on our products. What have we accomplished in school, or in our professions; did we manage to get married and have children; how much money did we make, how large is our house, how many countries have we visited? How are we on measures of health, fitness, world knowledge, cooking…and onward? Are we proud or ashamed of how much or how little we have done to reach our goals? From day to day, we may even have a checklist with our “to do’s” in sight, hoping we can cross each one off as we do our duty. The meaning of our life seems counted out in products.

Once freed from evaluation by institutions of education and work, however, we find it increasingly nourishing to shift our attention from the PRODUCTS of our activities to the PROCESS in which we are engaged. To be sure, we may never lose interest in the outcomes, but the exploration of process is increasingly fascinating.

Attention to the process by which we do things also allows us to focus on the details of our activities, to open ourselves to what gives us life-energies. For example, if our goal is simply to have a healthy meal, how are we doing it? Are we taking the time to prepare food that we really enjoy? And where will we eat? Perhaps a nice table setting would contribute to the experience, enhanced with flowers and candles. Are we taking time together to enjoy the food and company, as opposed to racing through so we can get on with other matters?

How do we talk together? Dinner need not be a business meeting, nor an excuse for more television, but instead a period of relaxed, mutual appreciation. The same goes for ordinary tasks, such as house cleaning, paying bills, or filling the gas tank. How, we ask, can we convert these from “let’s just get this over with” to “my life in this moment feels quite ok?” Yes, it’s an adventure, but the process of exploration is also a nourishing good in itself.

Purpose in Life: Health Advantages
Feeling that one has a purpose in life — a sense that life one’s life has significance and direction — is an important key to well-being. Most interesting, however, is the possibility that a sense of purpose in life may also be advantageous to your health. This is the conclusion being drawn by scientists at the Alzheimer's Disease Center of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. "Mental health, in particular positive psychological factors such as having a purpose in life, are emerging as very potent determinants of health outcomes," said Patricia Boyle, PhD, a professor at the center. "Clinicians need to be aware of a patient’s mental state and encourage behaviors that will increase purpose and other positive emotional states," she advised.

Earlier research from the Rush team had focused on the relationship between purpose in life and Alzheimer’s. As this research showed, elderly people with a strong sense of purpose in life are almost 2.5 times less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease. The present research was focused on strokes. There were 453 participants in project, all of whom underwent annual physical and psychological evaluations, including a standard assessment of purpose in life. They were followed until they died, at an average age of 90. All of the participants were free of dementia when they entered the study. Over this period a total of 114 participants (25.3%) had clinically diagnosed strokes. According to the researchers, however, participants who had initially reported a stronger purpose in life were 44% less likely to have macroscopic strokes.

These findings remained "robust" after adjustment for vascular risk factors of body mass index, history of smoking, diabetes mellitus, and other factors. The reasons for these important linkages are many, including the fact that people with a strong purpose in life are more active, both physically and mentally, than those who feel there is little worth doing.

Working for 85 years!
Felimina Rotundo works at a local laundromat and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon, even at the age of 100. Rotundo washes clothes and handles dry cleaning at the College Laundry Shoppe in Buffalo, New York. She works from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. She says that she likes being out and working because it “gives her something to do.” Rotundo said that she hasn’t considered retirement. She says she doesn't think that "old people" should be sitting idle, and doing nothing, because that is a waste of time. So when would be an acceptable age to retire? According to her, 75 would be a good age but only if health is an issue.

Rotundo was born in 1915, and this past August she reached the century mark. She says she has been working for 85 years of her life. She has worked in the area for nearly 40 years. When she first started she only made about 25 cents for washes.

Living to 100: Good News for Men
On average, women have longer lives than men. However, if men do manage to reach a century of life, they have the advantage. Researchers from King's College London analyzed electronic health records on age, chronic illnesses and age-related problems during the years 1990 to 2013 for 11,084 centenarians. The study indicated that the likelihood of reaching 100 was four times higher for women than for men. Yet, interestingly, centenarian men tended to be healthier than same-aged women. They suffered from fewer chronic illnesses and had fewer age-related problems. "We found a surprising number of 100 year-olds who had no major illnesses", said lead author Nisha Hazra. Further research is needed to find out why some people reach old age in good health and others do not. In the future, this knowledge could improve the care and quality of life, she said.

Writing Toward the Twilight
Clive James is often regarded as one of the western world’s greatest writers - a critic, poet and explorer of the universe. For decades he has sent out his missives to the world from Cambridge, England. Of late, he has been writing up a storm, in the face of a diagnosis of a potentially lethal leukemia. His recent book of poems, Sentenced to Life sings with the sensibility of one who is dying. He writes of the positive possibilities in aging:

This much: you get to see the
cosmos blaze
And feel its grandeur, even
against your will,
As it reminds you, just by being
there.
That it is here we live or else
nowhere.

His poetry reminds us all that the wonders of life are here, under our noses, for us to cherish everyday.

From: Writing toward the Twilight Prolifically by Dwight Garner. New York Times, January 14, 2016, pg. C1, C4 (Sentenced to Life is published by Liveright Pub.)

www.AARP.org Dozens of resources that are tailored to their membership of people over 50, from health to caretaking, volunteering, financial information, discounts and coupons, information on products, and other services to promote positive aging.
www.nrc.Northwestern.edu National Research Center for Osher Lifelong Learning institutes at Northwestern University. The 119 Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes exist in all the states and DC. Each is part of a college or university, and specializes in adult education.

I am still reading your Positive Aging newsletters and I am so impressed that you have kept them going for so long. When I went to look for your email addresses, I noticed all the different languages the issues appear in and that was amazing, too.

I just wanted to let you know that I wrote a book, How We Live Now: Redefining Home and Family in the 21st Century; chapter 7 is called "Lifespaces for the New Old Age – Institutions Begone!"
You can read more about the book here if you are interested, http://belladepaulo.com/how-we-live-now/. The very short version is that I traveled around the country asking people to show me their homes, tell me about the important people in their lives, and describe how they had found a place to live and a way to live that was personally fulfilling. The older people I interviewed provided some great examples of positive aging.

Thanks for all that you have been doing to make aging more positive for all of us.

The American Society on Aging (ASA) Conference takes place March 20–24, 2016 in Washington, DC. ASA is always looking for new models, innovative programs and research-to-practice presentations for the conference. This is a fabulous opportunity to share your program developments and new ideas with this conference community of nearly 3,000 multidisciplinary professionals who, like you, care about improving the lives of older adults. www.asaging.org/aia.

The Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE), GSA's 42nd Annual Meeting and Educational Leadership Conference is taking place from March 3 to 6, 2016, at The Westin Long Beach in Long Beach California — is the premier international forum for discussing ideas and issues in gerontological and geriatric education. The theme for 2016 is "Developing Educational Leadership in Gerontology Worldwide."

We hope that you enjoy The Positive Aging Newsletter.
Questions & Feedback:
If you have any questions, or material you'd like to share with other newsletter readers, please e-mail Mary Gergen at gv4@psu.edu

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Join us at our new website – Positive Aging in Action – at:www.positiveaginginaction.org

]]>http://www.taosinstitute.net/2015-novdec2015 Sept/Octhttp://www.taosinstitute.net/2015-septoctTue, 01 Dec 2015 06:00:00 GMTContent DeveloperDownload the newsletter in PDF format: Issue_94_Positive_Aging_Newsletter_Sept-Oct_2015.pdf THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER September/October, 2015 The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net) Announcing: POSITIVE AGING IN ACTION A new and exciting development of the Positive Aging Newsletter is in motion. Under the leadership of our friend, colleague, and mentor Samuel Mahaffy, we have launched a website, Positive Aging in Action...]]>Download the newsletter in PDF format: Issue_94_Positive_Aging_Newsletter_Sept-Oct_2015.pdf THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER September/October, 2015 The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net) Announcing: POSITIVE AGING IN ACTION A new and exciting development of the Positive Aging Newsletter is in motion. Under the leadership of our friend, colleague, and mentor Samuel Mahaffy, we have launched a website, Positive Aging in Action...Download the newsletter in PDF format: Issue_94_Positive_Aging_Newsletter_Sept-Oct_2015.pdf

THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER
September/October, 2015

The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net)

Announcing: POSITIVE AGING IN ACTION

A new and exciting development of the Positive Aging Newsletter is in motion. Under the leadership of our friend, colleague, and mentor Samuel Mahaffy, we have launched a website, Positive Aging in Action - join in at: www.positiveaginginaction.org. In addition to our Newsletter content, the website will include up-to-date news ideas, reviews, announcements, and other resources on positive aging. This website is designed to be interactive and we invite you to join today. We are excited about the addition, and hope you find it useful and inspiring.

As we grow older we are in danger of losing touch, that is, physical contact with other human beings. There are no more parents to cuddle us. The days of courtship have largely passed. Close dancing is now passé. The grandchildren pass the stage of curling up on your lap. And as we feel less and less physically attractive, we begin to doubt that others should wish to join in an embrace. Among those most deprived of physical contact may be the elderly widows. In part, this could serve as an invitation for all of us to be more sensitive and creative as we grow older, so as not to lose what many scholars feel is a vital source of well-being. In the 70s, everyone was hugging, on any possible occasion. Although no longer so fashionable, we have been loathe to give up the pastime. With some friends we do backrubs. And we don’t let our grandchildren grow up as fast as they might wish. These are just a few ways we try to keep in touch (not to mention how we two keep in touch as bedtime partners).

We were recently struck by a news article describing the use of dogs for boosting the spirits of hospital patients. Patients are especially fond of patting the animals. It is also apparent, then, that humans are not the only ones to provide us with creature comforts. Our dog Julian liked to sit under Ken’s desk when he was working. At the same time, when Ken hit a hard patch in his writing, he would often go and lie down beside Julian, stroking his fur and feeling his warmth. As Ken said, it was a great way to relax and restore his brain. A good friend of ours recently told us of the pleasure she experienced having her dog curl up with her in bed. Another friend likes her cats beside her as she sleeps. There are even some clothing materials that seem to have some nourishing qualities. I think of angora and cashmere, for example.

The nourishing pleasure of touch is subtle. It is like the shade of color on the wall, the amount of light in the room, the number of hard surfaces surrounding us, or the presence of grass and trees. While scarcely noticeable, all can affect our well-being. So, my crusade of the moment is to put touch higher on the list of contributions to aging well.
- Mary Gergen

Best Way to Retire: Choose it!
Retirement by choice is a pretty good choice, as suggested by a recent study of over 1,300 Dutch workers. The study was carried out over a six year period, during which about 50% of the workers retired. The first finding of importance was that the people who retired rated their life satisfactions as higher than those who remained on the job. During the study the satisfaction of people who continued to work declined. The researchers speculated that this group of employees might have wanted to retire, but could not, possibly due to financial considerations. A second important finding was that those who had retired involuntarily were the least satisfied with their lives. Those who had retired because of health, downsizing, or being let go for other reasons experienced a decrement in life satisfaction. Those who had retired voluntarily were most satisfied with their lives.

Not surprisingly, over the course of the study, health changes affected the level of life satisfaction. Also important was the status of their intimate life. People who lost a spouse or were divorced during the time of the study also experienced a reduced sense of satisfaction with their lives. The researchers also suggested that the reduction in life satisfaction following involuntary retirement might be short-lived. Once retired, with all of the potential opportunities retirement offers, the perceptions of life satisfaction might rebound.

Employers who have the power to end employment for their workers should be sensitive to the transitional stages and offer ways to smooth the path to a life without a job. Early retirement planning is one possible program to help employees find the right time to retire. Other organizational initiatives allow retirees to become involved in mentoring programs for younger employees, as well as other types of social service activities that benefit the company or the community.

From: Impact of Different Types of Retirement Transitions on Perceived Satisfaction with Life, by Douglas Hershey and Kene Henkens, The Gerontologist, 2013, 54, 232-244. Doi:10.1093/geront/gnt006
What do Adult Children Give to Their Parents?
Most research studies of child-parent relations focus on how parents help their children - from infancy to adulthood - in terms of financial, emotional and social support. This study is a turn-about, asking what young adults in their 20’s do in terms of supporting their parents, who are, by and large, middle aged. Participants completed a questionnaire that asked about forms and frequency of support they gave. For example, listening to a parent talk about daily life; giving emotional support, companionship, and advice; and providing financial support were all evaluated.

As the researchers found, the two most frequent forms of support from the younger to the older were described as providing emotional support and listening. One might say that the parents were expressing their feelings to their children, who were listening empathically and bolstering their morale. A large percentage of offspring (about 90%) reported listening to parents talk about daily life at least once a month. However, in terms of financial support, researchers found little evidence that the young adults gave money or practical support to their parents.

Researchers were also interested in the relationship between intergenerational ties and patterns of support. Here the parents were also asked about how much help they gave, and how much help they received from their children. Interestingly, the parents did not recall that their children gave as much help as the children claimed. This finding can be interpreted in many ways. However, when both parents and children rated their relationship as high in quality (with much affection), both children and parents agreed that more help was given. One might say that giving help proved to be reciprocal in this case, with both parents and children giving a lot to each other. At the same time, the parents’ support of their children was more likely to be financial. In close relationships, parents tend to give money and receive emotional support. Alas, when parents needed money, it seemed to make little difference in how much their children helped them. At least one conclusion to be drawn, is that parents should give special attention to kindling and sustaining affectionate ties with their children.

The Grateful Alive Band Plays On
The Grateful Alive band is a group of 16 musicians - from the classically trained to the self taught - who get together to play music of all varieties for people living in group residences, patients at medical facilities, or visitors at senior centers. The transformative power of the music, whether a polka or a waltz, is well noted by the musicians. The people in the audience go from being “just OK” to “joyful.” Band members themselves range in age from the 70’s to the 90’s. Once a week they gather to practice or perform. Band director, Mary Aldworth, describing the group said, “We don’t retire, we die.”

Mastering new music is a constant challenge for the group. They prefer to introduce new numbers to keep from getting bored. They are evolving, not stagnating. In addition to the popular music that many of the audience once danced to, the group has a repertoire of military service anthems, and when they are played, servicemen and women are asked to stand for their branch’s song. One of the regular venues of the band is the VA Medical Center in Coatesville, PA. Patients are vitalized after being at a concert. As a cello player, Virginia Schawacker, 76, described her pleasure in playing, “I love … seeing fingers begin to tap, faces becoming alert, people singing whole songs….There’s something about music.”

From: Grateful Alive, with no member younger than 70, plays for peers by Ann L. Rappoport, Philadelphia Inquirer, Oct. 14, 2015, C11, C8.
Toward Fall Proof Worlds
For people 65 years old and older falls are the number one cause of death from an injury, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 2013 alone, more than 25,500 seniors died from injuries sustained in a fall. The most common form of fall is a ground-level fall (where a person is standing on the ground before the fall). A study from the University of Mississippi, found that seniors older than 70 years experienced a three-fold increase in their risk of death after a ground-level fall when compared with those 69 years and younger.

What's behind this increased risk of death? According to the CDC, trauma to the brain was the cause of death in 41% of fall fatalities among seniors in the year 2010. Not every fall can be prevented, but taking certain steps can reduce a person's risk:

Constructing a fall proof environment: Removing clutter, throw rugs, and low-lying furniture can prevent tripping and installing grab bars in the bathroom and other slippery areas can provide additional stability. A slender friend of ours wears a padding around her hips to protect her if she falls.

Double-check medications: Certain prescription meds can make an older person dizzy and thus increase the chance that one might fall. Find out if medications being taken increase a risk of a fall. Try to find a substitute and reduce reliance on medications altogether, if possible.

Exercising: Exercise, particularly weight-bearing exercise can increase coordination and strengthen bones, which can help prevent and/or minimize the negative effects of fall.

Eye testing: Vision problems can be corrected.

From: CDC Compendium of Effective Fall Interventions: What Works for Community-Dwelling Older Adults, 3rd Edition. On the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Falls are no fun.

Steven Spielberg, A Director Who Never Gets Old
Steven Spieberg’s recently released movie, Bridge of Spies about the exchange of captured American pilot, Gary Powers, for a Russian spy, served as the opportunity for a recent profile in USA Today. Spieberg, 68, has been a highly successful director, whose early films - Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park and Jaws stunned many moviegoers in the 60’s. He took risks with films that were viewed as impossible to succeed. “You really test yourself when everybody says this is not a good choice and you persevere.” E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial was a prime example. For the future, Spielberg is finding a new burst of creative energy. As his 7th child heads off to college, he is working on a new film, an adaptation of Roald Dahl’s fantasy children’s book, The BFG, about a big, friendly giant. In terms of retirement, Spielerg believes that not working takes more energy than working. He is described as being more fascinated by life now than ever before. As an actor who works with him said, “In the center of a multibillion-dollar industry, … he’s preserved an innocence and a love for what he does.”

www.creativeaging.org - The National Center for Creative Aging (NCCA) was founded in 2001 and is dedicated to fostering an understanding of the vital relationship between creative expression and healthy aging and to developing programs that build on this understanding. Based in Washington, DC, NCCA is a non-profit organization with 2,500 members and is affiliated with The George Washington University.

www.agingnepal.org - Website dedicated to enhancing the lives of older people in Nepal. Website contains news of Nepal, and the newsletter, Voice of Senior Citizens.
Human Values in Aging Newsletter
This electronic newsletter, edited by Harry (Rick) Moody, is sponsored by the Creative Longevity and Wisdom Program of Fielding Graduate University and is distributed by the Humanities and Arts Committee of The Gerontological Society of America. The newsletter mentions the following websites as worthwhile for those interested in positive aging:

The American Society on Aging (ASA) Conference takes place March 20–24, 2016 in Washington, DC. ASA is always looking for new models, innovative programs and research-to-practice presentations for the conference. This is a fabulous opportunity to share your program developments and new ideas with this conference community of nearly 3,000 multidisciplinary professionals who, like you, care about improving the lives of older adults. www.asaging.org/aia.

The Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE), GSA's 42nd Annual Meeting and Educational Leadership Conference is taking place from March 3 to 6, 2016, at The Westin Long Beach in Long Beach California — is the premier international forum for discussing ideas and issues in gerontological and geriatric education. The theme for 2016 is "Developing Educational Leadership in Gerontology Worldwide."

]]>http://www.taosinstitute.net/2015-septoct2015 July/Augusthttp://www.taosinstitute.net/2015-julyaugustThu, 17 Sep 2015 05:00:00 GMTContent DeveloperDownload the newsletter in PDF format: Issue_93_Positive_Aging_Newsletter_July-August_2015.pdf THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER July/August, 2015 The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net) “THE BEST IN…INSIGHTS IN AGING” Wall Street Journal Issue No. 93 COMMENTARY: Aging and Expanding Appreciation RESEARCH: A Dose of Exercise Keeps the Brain Sharp Growing in Trust IN THE NEWS: Resisting Disappearance On the Good Side of “Too Old ...]]>Download the newsletter in PDF format: Issue_93_Positive_Aging_Newsletter_July-August_2015.pdf THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER July/August, 2015 The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net) “THE BEST IN…INSIGHTS IN AGING” Wall Street Journal Issue No. 93 COMMENTARY: Aging and Expanding Appreciation RESEARCH: A Dose of Exercise Keeps the Brain Sharp Growing in Trust IN THE NEWS: Resisting Disappearance On the Good Side of “Too Old ...Download the newsletter in PDF format: Issue_93_Positive_Aging_Newsletter_July-August_2015.pdf

THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER
July/August, 2015

The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen
Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net)

Aging and Expanding Appreciation
I recently drove through the neighborhood in which I had grown up many decades ago, and paused in front of the house where my best friend Tom had lived. Ah, the site of so much creative mischief! But I looked again, to realize something about the house to which I had been blind: it was in the Georgian architecture style, a rarity in that neighborhood. I looked again to see that the several fir trees in their yard were on the north side, obviously to protect from the fierce north winds. And there in the back yard stood an old copper beach tree, distinct from almost all the trees in the area. I had never noticed how beautiful it was, shimmering in the sunlight. There was a small wall along one edge of the property, but now I could see that Tom’s parents had carefully harmonized the wall with the house by selecting the same brick.

Slowly I began to reflect on what was taking place in my gazing appreciation. When I was young, I was insensitive to virtually all these many dimensions of my world. It was simply “Tom’s house.” Now, with age I had multiplied lenses for seeing. There were styles of architecture, landscaping, beauty and harmony. Give me another decade of life, I said to myself, and I bet I would see even more. All too often we approach aging as a period of loss in capacities - beauty, health, and so on. All too seldom do we consider what we gain. As we grow older, our experiences deepen, our understanding expands, and our appreciations grow in all directions: the foods we enjoy, the pleasures of music, the variations in nature, and the offerings of so many cultures. We can also compare the present with the past, finding interest in the smallest of changes – the disappearance of milk delivery, coal chutes, and curtain stretchers. And we are equipped as no one else to remark on the impact of new inventions on our lives together.

Growing older is not simply growing wiser, it is gaining a profound depth in our abilities to understand and appreciate.

A Dose of Exercise Keeps the Brain Sharp
Much research suggests that there is a close link between exercise and our cognitive abilities. In this case researchers looked more closely. Actually, how much exercise is needed? The researchers at the University of Kansas Alzheimer’s Disease Center began by recruiting 101 sedentary older adults, at least 65 years of age, who were generally healthy, and had no symptoms of dementia. The volunteers first completed a series of cognitive tests, along with measurements of their aerobic capacity. Then they were randomly assigned to one of four groups:

A control group continuing their normal lives.

Exercise for 75 minutes a week, half the current recommendation

Exercise for the recommended 150 minutes per week

Exercise for 225 minutes per week, or 150 percent more than recommended

Exercise consisted of walking briskly on a treadmill. After 26 weeks, all of the participants returned to the lab to repeat the original tests. There were significant differences. First, on the physical level, the more someone had exercised, the more his or her endurance capacity had increased, with those walking for 225 minutes per week the most fit of all.

However, that relationship between exercise and cognitive abilities was more surprising. Indeed, exercise did have a positive effect, but the gains were about the same whether people had exercised for 75 minutes a week or 225 minutes. Over all, “a small dose of exercise” may be sufficient to improve many aspects of thinking. On the other hand, more exercise will likely make you more aerobically fit. The encouraging conclusion from the research is that briskly walking for 20 or 25 minutes several times a week — may help to keep our brains sharp as the years pass.

Growing in Trust
Researchers replicated and extended previous work on age-related differences in interpersonal trust and examined associations between trust and well-being across the adult life span. In Study 1, a cross-sectional study of 197,888 individuals (aged 14–99) from 83 countries assessed between 1981 and 2007, results showed that older versus younger adults showed higher on interpersonal trust. Higher trust scores predicted higher well-being, especially for older adults. In Study 2, a nationally representative longitudinal study (spanning 4 years) of 1,230 individuals in the United States (aged 18–89), showed that interpersonal trust increased longitudinally across age groups and higher trust predicted increases in well-being longitudinally and vice versa. That is as people aged they grew more trusting of others, and at the same time, as people improved in their well-being scores, they also became more trusting. These findings suggest that interpersonal trust may be an important resource for successful development across the life span.

It is curious to speculate why some people grow more trusting as they age. Perhaps people who rate themselves as having a high level of well-being are those who have had many positive experiences trusting others; it may also be the case that having a trusting attitude toward others tends to bring out the best in others, as well. Being skeptical and suspicious of others, on the other hand, may encourage negative behaviors on the part of others. And if one has lived in a world where people have treated one badly, it is reasonable not to trust them. Overall to see the best in people may be the best way to enjoy a satisfying life. As one ages, it may be a practice that one can increasingly use.

From: Growing to trust: Evidence that trust increases and sustains well-being across the life span by Michael J. Poulin and Claudia M. Haase, Social Psychological and Personality Science, 2015, 6, 614-621.

Resisting Disappearance
At the American Psychological Association meetings in Toronto this August, Mary Gergen gave a talk entitled Stereotypes of Older Women: Resisting the Disappearing Act. Her concern was with the common view that older women are without value. They have ceased to have babies, be sexually alluring, or to participate in the workforce. A recent study of Facebook groups that concentrated on older adults found that all but one of the sites voiced negative age stereotypes. Some 74% blamed older people for a variety of social ills, and 37% advocated banning them from public activities, such as shopping!

This kind of ageism is not a harmless or frivolous issue. It can hinder people from opportunities for work, threaten morale, reduce social participation, and affect their health. One of the most serious consequences of ageism is that older people are also ageist themselves. Many people resist going to live in residential communities for older people or from going to the Senior center because they “don’t want to be with old people.”

The irony of the situation is that as one becomes a victim of the stereotype, one also becomes a fuller, wiser, and more emotionally satisfied person. A survey of midlife women indicates “an enhanced capacity for self-transcendence that develops in women as they age.” Women in their fifties “embrace an expanded sense of self marked by renewed energy…and a sharper awareness of life’s finiteness.” Positive developments that typically emerge as adults grow older include increased emotional stability, emotional and philosophical complexity and wisdom.

With the ever-expanding size of the elderly population, the stereotypes may wither. But for the immediate future, older people, themselves, must act. How can we resist? What must we do? Panelists at the conference had much to offer. One woman said, “Political and personal activities are helpful in resisting the stereotypes. Being involved in social justice actions, from local to global in order to undermine social conditions that produce stereotypes is one avenue.” Another said, “I am clear that I will continue to mentor and advocate for persons who are often relegated to the margins of society. I will look for potential in those who may be dismissed without cause because they do not fit.” Still another: “I have energy and a resolve to live life to the fullest. Postponement is no longer a part of my life script. I use everything now – not just for special occasions as every day is a special day, a gift.” For myself, I find it useful to speak up and voice my opinion, in whatever groups I am participating. I support my friends who join in classes such as yoga, dance, weight-training and sports, or take classes that expand knowledge and interests. The main thing is disregard your precious reputation for purposes of “acting your age.

On the Good Side of “Too Old for This”
In a recent essay in the New York Times “I’m Too Old for This” Dominique Browning – one-time editor of House and Garden - addressed the lessons learned, as a woman ages. Here are some of her pithy comments, mostly addressed to younger women.

Discussing the lifelong fears and dislikes of one’s own body: “Why waste time and energy on insecurity? I have no doubt that when I’m 80 I’ll look at pictures of myself when I was 60 and think how young I was then, how filled with joy and beauty.”

I’m happy to have a body that is healthy, that gets me where I want to go, that maybe sags and complains, but hangs in there.”

“Weight gain? Simply move to the looser end of the wardrobe.”

“What matters most is work. Does it give you pleasure, or hope? Does it sustain your soul?”

“The key to life is resilience. … We will always be knocked down. It’s the getting up that counts. … Resilience is the key to feeling 15 again. Which is actually how I feel most of the time.”

“I am too old to try to change people….what you see in someone at the beginning is what you get forevermore…. Toxic people? I’m simply walking away. It’s easier all around to accept that friendships have ebbs and flows, and indeed, there’s something quite beautiful about the organic nature of love.”

A Retirement Coach?
We have career coaches and life coaches, and now we have coaches specialized in helping people plan their retirements. Typically hired by baby boomers some years before the planned retirement date, these coaches help people with many issues besides the financial. One of the most important questions is how will people find purpose and meaning in their lives, once the job title is relinquished and the nest is empty. Many people want a new part-time career, one that is stress-free or in which one is one’s own boss. The centrality of travel, family life and hobbies are also important to consider.

Retirement coaching is a relatively new field, but some coaches have certificates from training programs that require coursework, practicums and exams. Hiring a coach costs from $100-$300 per session.

Growing numbers of people are diagnosed with forms of memory loss, some mild and some that become severe. When this happens to a friend, is the friendship lost? These authors, a psychologist and a Christian minister, argue that there are ways in which friendship can be maintained over the course of dementia, even when people do not remember us from moment to moment. The authors stress that remembering is not the only important aspect of a person’s capacities. Forgetting can also be a blessing. The central idea of the book is that one accompanies people who are experiencing cognitive loss, no matter how long and convoluted the process. In their view, “It is possible, necessary and rewarding to have meaningful relations with people traveling the dementia road.” Their lives have worth and value, and they have much to teach their friends about love.

Community groups can help to support these types of friendships. The McFaddens cite their own religious community as an example of this type of group. The community is committed to providing hospitality and acceptance of all people who come there, regardless of their human condition.

John Copelton writes:
Hi Mary,
I edit an online magazine aimed at the active retired and wondered if you might give us a mention (www.exploringretirement.co.uk). Our website is a completely free resource and we carry no advertising. We aim to answer the question "what is there to do when you retire" by exploring and sharing initiatives from around the world.
Regards, John

Theresa Bertram writes:
Earlier this year, Lutheran Homes of Oshkosh became aware of the Cycling Without Age program founded by Ole Kassow in 2012. Starting in Copenhagen, the program has taken off worldwide with chapters in Scandinavia, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Australia, Singapore, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, and the United States. The program pairs volunteers piloting rickshaws and elders living in nursing homes interested in going for a ride and spending time outside.

In February, Lutheran Homes became the first elder care services provider in the United States to become a licensee and convened a coalition to launch Cycling Without Age in Oshkosh. Partners include the East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, City of Oshkosh, Senior Center, and representatives from several cycling shops and clubs. Coalition members include seniors receiving skilled care and living independently on the Lutheran Homes campus.

From donations of a dollar to checks in the amounts of $1,000 - $3,000 - $5,000, Lutheran Homes has raised approximately $22,000 from individuals, charitable groups, and a foundation. A Bethel Home skilled nursing resident, who is an avid fan of the Cycling Without Age program and a member of the coalition, has independently raised thousands of dollars.

Three rickshaws have been ordered. Ole Kassow, Cycling Without Age founder, is coming to Lutheran Homes the last week of August to participate in several special events including the blessing of our fleet of rickshaws. Gerard Bodalski, Vice President of Health Care Services, is available to provide further information for members interested in the program. He can be reached at 920.232.5225 or at gbodalski@lutheranhomes.com.

Please be sure to share this email with Ken. We would be thrilled for you to make the connection between the newsletter, Cycling Without Age, and Lutheran Homes of Oshkosh in a future edition of the newsletter.
Warmly, Theresa

November 18-22, 2015, GSA, 2015, the Gerontological Society of America’s annual scientific meeting. “Aging as a Lifelong Process” in Orlando, FL. Registration and housing open June 2015. For more information visit: www.geron.org/2015

November 16-18, 2015: International Institute for Reminiscence and Life Review, Orlando, FL 11th biennial international conference. www.ReminiscenceAndLifeReview.org

The American Society on Aging (ASA) Conference takes place March 20–24 in Washington, DC. ASA is always looking for new models, innovative programs and research-to-practice presentations for the conference. This is a fabulous opportunity to share your program developments and new ideas with this conference community of nearly 3,000 multidisciplinary professionals who, like you, care about improving the lives of older adults. www.asaging.org/aia.

The Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE), GSA's 42nd Annual Meeting and Educational Leadership Conference is taking place from March 3 to 6, 2016, at The Westin Long Beach in Long Beach California — is the premier international forum for discussing ideas and issues in gerontological and geriatric education. The theme for 2016 is "Developing Educational Leadership in Gerontology Worldwide."

Questions & Feedback:
If you have any questions, or material you'd like to share with other newsletter readers, please e-mail Mary Gergen at gv4@psu.edu
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Relational Life Review
Older people are often encouraged to engage in a life review, that is, to thoughtfully explore the details of their lives as a whole, to put together the “story of my life.” There are groups for producing such memoirs, and younger family members are encouraged to interview their elders “before it is too late.” By engaging in this process with an appreciative eye, one not only derives pleasure, but an enhanced sense of meaning and of peace. Life reviews focus on the self, as the center of activity. We try to discover “what happened to me, what I felt, decided, or thought…” Although the life review is a popular genre, the subject is very narrow. Time after time, national surveys indicate that the most important or valued aspects of people’s lives are their relationships. So, we ask, what about laying aside the “story of my life,” for a while, and instead review the story of the relationships of which I have been a part? What could we learn; how would this expand our consciousness or appreciation?

The two of us have played with this idea for some time, in one case trying our hand at a “duography,” or a biography of our coupleship. We now find it illuminating to think back on the history of various other relationships in which we have participated. For example, what do we recall about early family life? Rather than thinking of “what happened to me,” one might ponder what happened to my family over time, the relationship of father, mother, and siblings, and how we functioned together – for both good and ill. Here we begin, for example, to think of the economic struggles of our parents and their sacrifices for us, along with the way we brought them pleasure…and a bit of pain! We begin to appreciate the way our mothers seemed to hold us all together, and how, after her death, our relations with our brothers and sisters changed. And we also think of friendship relationships, some now inactive, some enduring. We don’t ask in this case, “what did I get from this,” but, for example, “how did we flourish so well,” and “what joy did we create together?” And of course, there are the teams in which we have participated, the clubs, and the communities. All add significant layers to our understanding and appreciation.

Relations have a life of their own; we can participate, but like a lively conversation or a dance, the directions they take are born in the interaction. As we grow older, we need to explore the dynamics of these relationships, appreciate the dimensions they have added to the lives of the participants, including ourselves, and relish these sources of meaning and inspiration.

Older Drivers are Safer Drivers
Stereotypes about “old drivers” suggest that they are the worst drivers on the road --slow, inept, and dangerous. Perhaps it is time to change some of these views. In fact, older drivers are among the best on the road. The evidence? AAA’s Foundation for Traffic Safety has concluded that these negative stereotypes are an undeserved myth, and that there are many positive aspects to the safety record for older people. Among them:

86% of Americans age 85 and older still drive, and 75% of them drive five or more days a week. Driving is not just for occasional jaunts.

Nearly 90% of older drivers (65 and older) reported no accidents in the last two years.

90% of older drivers reported no moving violations.

65% of drivers age 75 and older report never using a cell phone while driving.

80% of drivers over age 75 favor medical screenings for drivers within their age bracket.

Despite this view, age-based testing has been evaluated many times, and results indicate that it has no impact on highway safety. At any age, certain medical conditions must be of concern, such as serious heart conditions, epilepsy, complications related to diabetes, as well as dementia. States should focus on these issues and not on age.

Re-partnering After Widowhood
What kinds of partnering relationships do those who are widowed engage in after their spouse dies? These Canadian researchers believed that widowed people over 45 would prefer to live together, rather than remarry. Co-habiting would be an easier and faster way of forming a partnership, with less financial and familial issues to settle. For the most part they were deeply mistaken.

Using the 2007 Canadian General Social Survey, and longitudinal data, the researchers first found that overall, men are about four times as likely to re-partner as women. This is mainly because there are many more women than men who are widowed. Men are in demand! At the same time, neither group does a lot of re-partnering. At least within ten years after their loss, only 7% of widows and 29% of widowers have formed new unions. Yet, most interesting, for both woman and men, twice as many are likely to remarry as to co-habit. Among people of this era, marriage is the preferred state, regardless of financial obligations and family issues that may occur.

There is one exception to this trend: the widowed people of Quebec are more likely to live together rather than to remarry. Although the reasons are unclear, the researchers suggest that this tendency may represent a general resistance to strictures of Catholicism prevailing in the region, and the power of feminism. Women may not want to become tied down with marital obligations.

Self-empowerment as a Response to Ageism
In North America, and perhaps elsewhere, negative stereotypes of aging are common. For example, a Yale study looking at Facebook groups that concentrated on older adults found that all but one of the sites focused on negative age stereotypes. Further, 74% blamed older people for a variety of social ills, 27% infantilized them, and 37% advocated banning them from public activities, such as shopping!

Ageism is not harmless or frivolous. It can hinder people from opportunities for work, increase financial insecurities, and threaten people’s morale and energy, perhaps even their health. Eventually society will change, as the value that older people bring to society will be recognized, but for the immediate future, older people, themselves, must act.

Paul Irving, Chairman of the Milken Center for the Future of Aging, calls for a stance of self-empowerment against this prejudice. He believes it is imperative that people fight against the tide of antagonism, rather than buy into the image of impotent agers or retreat in the face of it. His recommendations for self-empowerment are these:

Prepare: read, listen and enlarge our relational networks to learn how best to navigate “the system”. Take care of ourselves, physically as well as mentally.

Return to School. Life long learning of any sort helps to create opportunities, enhance confidence, and redefine who we are.

Keep working. Work helps people to remain cognitively astute and lively. Work also helps people stay healthy.

Arrange an optimal schedule. Create a life style that is suited to your rhythms of rest and activity. Change the way in which you arrange your time, including your work schedule.

Start a business. If this suits you. The people now most likely to consider themselves as entrepreneurial are the baby boomers, and they are starting the most new businesses.

Retire differently. Consider phasing out of work and into another life style. Simply dropping out and doing nothing is a recipe for disaster.

Volunteer or pursue an encore career. Get involved with civic and community groups, and become a local leader. Through it all keep a sense of humor, smile and accept that there are always struggles in every life. So What?

As we see it, this seems to be good advice – not for fighting ageism in particular, but for positive aging in general.

Reference: Levy, B. R., et al. (2014). Facebook as a site for negative age stereotypes. The Gerontologist, 54, 172-176.

From: Self-empowerment in Later Life as a Response to Ageism by Paul Irving. Generations, 39, 2015, 72-77.
92 and Still Going the Distance
Thinking of sitting in a rocking chair, watching the next marathon on TV? That’s not the choice of 92 year old Harriette Thompson of Charlotte, NC. On May 31, she ran the Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon in San Diego, with a time of 7 hours, 24 minutes, to become the oldest woman to finish a marathon. Mobs of well-wishers gave her kudos for her performance, and she was delighted to be there. What is particularly special about her achievement is that she only began running marathons in her 70’s. A member of her church asked her to support her run for a cancer charity. Ms. Thompson decided that she would not only support her, but she would go along on the marathon. Her plan was to walk, but when she saw all the others running, she decided to run, as well. She has been running ever since. A classically trained pianist, she used her memory of playing old piano pieces to get through the 26 miles. Raising money for charity is one of her motives for running, and as a cancer survivor herself, she doubts she’d be alive today if she didn’t run.

From: 92 and still going the distance, Associated Press, Philadelphia Inquirer, June 1, 2015, A4.
Always at the Edge: Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda
Netflix is developing a new show called Grace and Frankie. The stars of the show are Jane Fonda, who is Grace, and Lily Tomlin, as Frankie. The premise of the show is that their husbands, Sam Waterston and Martin Sheen, are gay and want to marry each other. As unlikely as this may seem, it provides the motivation for the two wives to find some common ground. As one of the show’s creators, Howard Morris, said, “We felt an urgency about the subject matter… this population is aging rapidly, all the baby boomers. This is the time to hit this show.” Fonda wanted to do the show about being an older woman. “When women pass 50, in some ways their lives get better. It’s like: Who cares? What do we have to lose to not be brave…. I wanted to do a series about that.”
As Tomlin also explained, “I did have a fantasy that we would live out this show in our lives.” Jane added, “It’s fun, doing a show about getting old, and we’re going to be getting old.” The actresses are over 74.

From: Youthful Demographics be Damned by John Koblin, New York Times, April 26, 2015, 22.

This summer The Taos Institute will publish a book entitled, 70Candles! Women Thriving in Their 8th Decade by Jane Giddan and Ellen Cole. The book includes first hand accounts of women who have found the 70+ years enriching. Many also share their wisdom. Here we share an excerpt from an essay by a 94 year old woman, who began self-publishing after her work career had ended. Here she begins with reference to a book she had written for social bridge players: For reasons of procrastination, and I get feeling I’ll live forever, I never did get around to publishing that bridge book until the end of 2009, at 89, with the title Bridge Table or What’s Trump Anyway? An Affectionate Look Back at Sociable Bridge & Ladies Lunch . By this time self-publishing had become widespread, far easier than back when I started. BUT one still must do the harder less fun job of marketing yourself. And so I started a blog, http://bridgetable.net as part of a rather desultory effort at marketing.

Meanwhile I moved to retirement heaven in Florida near a daughter. I’m still a political junkie, play bridge at least twice a week—and blog.

If people ask how come I do so well at 94 I emphasize the mental aspect. I do walk a bit, but I loathe sports--always have--and I don't even take my vitamins as I should. I believe mental activity is at least as important as physical activity—perhaps more important. I do watch to see that I eat enough protein and greens, but don’t deny myself fried foods or yummy desserts when I eat out.

And I usually add--just for a laugh--have a martini every night and go barefooted as much as possible. [I kind of believe in that Asian stuff about all those nerve endings in the soles of one's feet needing to be massaged by going barefooted or at least wearing thin-soled shoes.] Just a couple months ago on 60 Minutes they did a piece on nonagenarians and what they have in common – came down to being slightly overweight and having a couple of drinks every day! I fit that.

My unscientific opinion is that heredity probably has more to do with reaching the 90s dementia-free than seems fair. But being mentally active is next – interested in life and the world, open to taking up new hobbies and activities that bring you in touch with a new set of acquaintances and friends. And, one thing more, learn to play bridge as early in life as you can. But it’s never too late – take it up in your 70s - for sure if you’ve reached 70 without bridge!

Web Resources

www.spry.org
Setting priorities for Retirement Years. Nonprofit organization that helps prepare people for successful aging. Four key areas of health and wellness; mental health; financial security, life engagement.

www.seniorcorp.org
Volunteer program for people 55 and over. Programs include Foster Grandparent Program and Senior Companion Program.

www.globalaging.org/index.htm
Global Action on Aging (GAA) is a nonprofit organization with a special status with the UNESCO. Does research on various topics related to aging, and posts materials on its web site.

www.seniortheatre.com
Senior Theatre Resource Center is "a mecca for all things related to theatre for seniors." Founded in 1997, the ArtAge Center produces materials and workshops for Senior Theatre performers and directors worldwide in keeping with the company’s mission to help “older adults fulfill their theatrical dreams.” The Center has the world’s largest collection of over 400 plays, books, and materials for older performers.

November 18-22, 2015, GSA, 2015, the Gerontological Society of America’s annual scientific meeting. “Aging as a Lifelong Process” in Orlando, FL. Registration and housing open June 2015. For more information visit: www.geron.org/2015

The American Society on Aging (ASA) Conference takes place March 20–24, 2016 in Washington, DC. ASA is always looking for new models, innovative programs and research-to-practice presentations for the conference. This is a fabulous opportunity to share your program developments and new ideas with this conference community of nearly 3,000 multidisciplinary professionals who, like you, care about improving the lives of older adults. www.asaging.org/aia.

The Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE), GSA's 42nd Annual Meeting and Educational Leadership Conference , March 3 to 6, 2016, at The Westin Long Beach in Long Beach California — is the premier international forum for discussing ideas and issues in gerontological and geriatric education. The theme for 2016 is "Developing Educational Leadership in Gerontology Worldwide."

We hope that you enjoy The Positive Aging Newsletter.
Questions & Feedback:
If you have any questions, or material you'd like to share with other newsletter readers, please e-mail Mary Gergen at gv4@psu.edu

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Click on the link in the right column to Sign Up for the Positive Aging Newsletter.

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]]>http://www.taosinstitute.net/2015-mayjune2015 March/Aprilhttp://www.taosinstitute.net/2015-marchaprilSun, 17 May 2015 05:00:00 GMTContent DeveloperDownload the newsletter in PDF format: Issue_91_Positive_Aging_Newsletter_March-April_2015.pdf THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER March/April, 2015 The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net) “THE BEST IN…INSIGHTS IN AGING” Wall Street Journal Issue No. 91 COMMENTARY: Adjusting the Sails RESEARCH: Leisure and Staying Smart Beating the Blues with the Internet IN THE NEWS: How to Live a Long Time: A Global Search Walk Hard, Walk Easy,...]]>Download the newsletter in PDF format: Issue_91_Positive_Aging_Newsletter_March-April_2015.pdf THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER March/April, 2015 The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net) “THE BEST IN…INSIGHTS IN AGING” Wall Street Journal Issue No. 91 COMMENTARY: Adjusting the Sails RESEARCH: Leisure and Staying Smart Beating the Blues with the Internet IN THE NEWS: How to Live a Long Time: A Global Search Walk Hard, Walk Easy,...Download the newsletter in PDF format: Issue_91_Positive_Aging_Newsletter_March-April_2015.pdf

THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER
March/April, 2015

The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen
Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net)

Adjusting the Sails
When speaking to various groups about positive aging, the two of us sometimes confront a critical voice. It is the voice of the “realist,” and it goes something like this: “You make aging sound like a walk in the park. If you just whistle a happy tune, all the ills just fly away. Aging is not like that. Bodies give out, and people suffer…more than at any other time of life.” The critic has a point. How many people do we know whose knees, hips, backs, or rotator cuffs are sources of misery, or whose arthritis or murmuring hearts begin to limit their activities? At the same time, we are also fond of a slogan we encountered the other day, “We cannot control the winds, but we can adjust the sails.” In effect, perhaps there are inevitabilities over the life course, but they do not determine how we respond to them. We have choices, and frustrating changes in the body’s capacities are an opportunity to exercise our creative muscles.

Certainly this is the lesson handed down to us by previous generations. As the seasons change, for example, so have we creatively conjured new possibilities. Icy winters inspired us to learn the joy of sliding down snowy mountains on wooden planks; the rainy season in the Netherlands gave birth to a thousand cozy cafes; with a scorching summer sun, laziness became a virtue; the leaves began dropping from the trees in the fall, and we learned to treasure those venues in which we could gaze with awe on the re-coloration of nature. And so it can be in the case of failing bodies.

Here we also begin to appreciate and salute the everyday creativity of those around us. We should honor those who bravely show us how to adjust our sails:

Alice, whose dissolving vertebrae meant giving up her love of dancing, but then fell in love with sculpting.

Hilda, whose failing eyesight meant giving up reading - her favorite pastime – and who now adores books on tape.

Frank, whose knees would no longer permit him to continue his lifelong enjoyment of tennis, but who has become an avid gardener.

Henry, whose breathing problems no longer allow him to hike, but who began to explore his dream of writing a memoir on his military experiences.

There are times we think that the working world in which most of us spend our adult lives may cripple these creative capacities. We are so bent on problem solving that we fail to consider problem dissolution. Thus, if the body fails, we simply want to “fix it.” This may be useful up to a point, but what must ultimately be mastered is the capacity to transform the failure into an opportunity for a walk in a new park.

Leisure and Staying Smart
In a previous Newsletter we summarized research suggesting that having a challenging job during the working years contributed to maintaining cognitive skills during the aging process. Or, one might say, a job that helped you to exercise your brain could set a good course for aging. The researchers in a new study, however, asked an additional question: what about leisure pursuits? Couldn’t leisure activities that were challenging have the same effects as what one did at work? Could such activities as reading, playing complex games, or working on challenging projects, have long-term benefits? And what about social lives that were filled with lively challenges – in conversations, planning events, taking care of others, and so on? Could these also be important?

To answer such questions, over 800 people from a longitudinal study of aging in Sweden, who were at least 77 years old, were given cognitive assessments in 1992 and 2002. They were also evaluated for their midlife occupations and leisure activities in 1968 and 1981. In agreement with previous research, this study indicated that the complexity of midlife work was related to late-life cognitive competence. Interestingly, however, the same was true for leisure activities that were either highly complex or highly social. So, even if one has worked in a job that was not very challenging intellectually, one’s leisure activities can enhance long term cognitive skills. It is also interesting, that work and play activities are not additive. If one’s work is complex, playing chess on the weekends will not add to one’s cognitive capacities.

There is every reason to believe that contributions to our mental abilities can still be made in the older years. The brain retains its plasticity. So, given that most people retire from their jobs, and still have many years to live, having a challenging hobby or a rich social life should help maintain one’s intellectual capacities.

From: The Role of Midlife Occupational Complexity and Leisure Activity in Late-Life Cognition by Ross Andel, Merril Silverstein, and Ingemar Kareholt, Journals of Gerontology: Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences. 70, 314-321.

Beating the Blues with the Internet
There is more to be said about leisure activities than how they may contribute to mental functioning. Consider: Being retired and alone can be a threat to well-being, especially in the older years. As we have proposed in previous editions of the Newsletter, it is together that we construct the value of life and its content. When living alone it is difficult to sustain the enthusiasms – both trivial and profound - that result from daily interaction with others. It is thus no surprise to find depression and suicide most elevated in the later years, and most especially among those who live alone. Yet, the increased availability of the internet transforms the character of “being alone.” At any moment, 24/7, one may find eager conversationalists available, on virtually any topic. The question, however, is whether internet relations can reduce the probability of depression. Can the internet chase away the blues?

In this study over 3,000 older Americans from the national Health and Retirement survey were assessed 4 times from 2002-2008. The respondents were evaluated for signs of depression and for the extent of their internet use. The major finding was that internet use was correlated with a 30% reduction in reports of depression. This result was found for the sample, generally, but was especially profound for older people who were living alone. When others were living in the household, the effects were lessened.

The present study did not analyze the kind of internet use in which the sample engaged, whether for example, there was on-line conversation, news feeds, entertainment, and so on. This would be useful research for the future. Interestingly, however, the Finnish government has set in motion a program to enhance internet availability for the elderly. However, as the present study suggests, one should not wait for a government decision.

How to Live a Long Time: A Global Search
Researchers, including a team from National Geographic, scoured the globe, looking for the people who lives the longest. The following places, called Blue Zones, were selected:

Seventh Day Adventists – Highest concentration is around Loma Linda, California. They live 10 years longer than other North Americans.

Okinawa, Japan – Females over 70 are the longest-lived population in the world.

The team of medical researchers, anthropologists, demographers, and epidemiologists looked for the common denominators among all places.

Nine characteristics were found:

Move Naturally. The world’s oldest people live in environments that constantly nudge them into moving without thinking about it. They grow gardens and do much of their house and yard work by hand.

Purpose. The Okinawans call it “Ikigai” and the Nicoyans call it “plan de vida;” This translates to “why I wake up in the morning.” A sense of purpose is worth up to seven years of extra life expectancy.

Down Shift. Even people in the Blue Zones experience stress. Stress leads to chronic inflammation, associated with every major age-related disease. What the world’s longest-lived people have that we don’t are routines to shed that stress. Okinawans take a few moments each day to remember their ancestors, Adventists pray, Ikarians take a nap and Sardinians do happy hour.

80% Rule. “Hara hachi bu” – the Okinawan, 2500-year old Confucian mantra said before meals reminds them to stop eating when their stomachs are 80 percent full. The 20% gap between not being hungry and feeling full could be the difference between losing weight or gaining it. People in the Blue Zones eat their smallest meal in the late afternoon or early evening and then they don’t eat any more the rest of the day.

Plant Slant. Beans, including fava, black, soy and lentils, are the cornerstone of most centenarian diets. Meat—mostly pork—is eaten on average only five times per month. Serving sizes are 3-4 oz., about the size of a deck of cards.

Wine @ 5. People in all Blue Zones (except Adventists) drink alcohol moderately and regularly. Moderate drinkers outlive non-drinkers. The trick is to drink 1-2 glasses per day (preferably Sardinian Cannonau wine), with friends and/or with food. And no, you can’t save up all weekend and have 14 drinks on Saturday.

Belong. All but five of the 263 centenarians interviewed belonged to some faith-based community. Denomination doesn’t seem to matter. Research shows that attending faith-based services four times per month will add 4-14 years of life expectancy.

Loved Ones First. Successful centenarians in the Blue Zones put their families first. This means keeping aging parents and grandparents nearby or in the home (It lowers disease and mortality rates of children in the home too.). They commit to a life partner (which can add up to 3 years of life expectancy) and invest in their children with time and love (They’ll be more likely to care for you when the time comes).

Right Tribe. The world’s longest lived people chose–or were born into–social circles that supported healthy behaviors, Okinawans created ”moais”–groups of five friends that committed to each other for life. So the social networks of long-lived people have favorably shaped their health behaviors.

To make it to age 100, you have to have won the genetic lottery. But most of us have the capacity to make it well into our early 90’s and largely without chronic disease. As the Adventists demonstrate, the average person’s life expectancy could increase by 10-12 years by adopting a Blue Zones lifestyle.

From: Reverse Engineering Longevity, by Dan Buettnerhttp://www.bluezones.com/2014/04/power-9/
Walk Hard, Walk Easy, Live Longer
For those of us who do not live in a Blue Zone, how might we take up some of their habits, especially if we do not walk to work? Recent news offers interesting information on optimal exercise. Ten years ago, scientists at a medical school in Japan created an exercise program that has done wonders for the participants. In the original experiment, walkers between ages 44 and 78 completed five sets of specific walking activities for a total of thirty minutes three times a week. A control group of walkers walked at a continuous, moderate rate for this period of time. After five months the fitness and health of the control group barely improved. For the experimental walkers, significant improvements were found for aerobic fitness, leg strength and blood-pressure readings. The effective walking exercise was the following:

For three minutes, the walkers walk at a fast pace (somewhere between 6 and 7 on a ten point scale of exertion).

For three minutes they gently stroll.

Repeat this scenario five times for a total of 30 minutes. Do this 3 times a week.

Following up on their successful walkers two years later, the researchers found that almost 70% of the walkers continued to follow this regimen and had retained or improved their health gains. What could be an easier and cheaper way to get a significant health boost?

Rabbi Dayle A. Friedman writes:
Dear Mary,
I write this on the eve of Tu Bishvat, the New Year for the trees, and on the day following Groundhog Day. In the film, "Groundhog Day," we see a character doomed to repeat the same day, in all of its mundane details, endlessly. How different is Tu Bishvat. Now, in the middle of winter, we celebrate renewal. Why now? Because this is the season at which the sap begins to rise within the trees of the land of Israel, signal of the new beginning of spring.

Beyond midlife, we, too, can experience renewal and fruitfulness, as the Psalmist writes and I translate: "May we grow fruitful as we age, ripe and abundant and sage. Keep our hearts open to all we face, present to goodness, even a trace. Renew us, let our spirits soar, sustain us, our Rock, for ever more."

I've just returned from Jerusalem, where I presented at the international conference on Jewish spiritual care. In the coming months, I'm looking forward to teaching at the Central Conference of American Rabbis, Spiritual Directors International, Congregation Bet Simchat Torah (NYC) and Congregation Beth Evergreen (CO).

On this New Year for the trees, I wish you juicy, fruitful and abundant growth and flowering.

It has been part of my “keeping up with what’s new in ageing” for almost two decades.

As a result of your work and that of Ken Dychtwald who first alerted me to the demographic in his book Age Wave, followed by the work of Zalman Schachter-Shalomi in From Ageing to Sage-ing that I was inspired to use my career development background to create a workshop to facilitate the possibilities and opportunities for those over 50 – Retire to the Life You Design. This work has now resulted in my newly published book, Retire to the Life You Love – Practical Tools for Designing Your Meaningful Future, with emphasis on the practical tools and the meaningful.

This book contains the holistic models and tools that I either created or used with permission that further the awareness of the possibilities and opportunities of an ageing population to a larger audience.

Thank you for all the good work that you do,
Nell

Norman Molesko, an Ambassador For Seniors, wishes to share the following website with you: www.losangelespoetsociety.org/#!norman-molesko/c14lx (We should add that Molesko himself is a poet, a performer, and a poster child for the Young Oldies, who are involved in life’s bustling action, without regard for biological age.)

The American Society on Aging (ASA) is now accepting proposals to present at the 2016 Aging in America Conference, March 20–24 in Washington, DC. ASA is always looking for new models, innovative programs and research-to-practice presentations for the conference. This is a fabulous opportunity to share your program developments and new ideas with this conference community of nearly 3,000 multidisciplinary professionals who, like you, care about improving the lives of older adults. The deadline to submit is June 1, 2015. Space for workshops is limited, so plan to submit soon. You can submit your proposal at www.asaging.org/aia.

November 18-22, 2015, GSA, 2015, the Gerontological Society of America’s annual scientific meeting. “Aging as a Lifelong Process” in Orlando, FL. Registration and housing open June 2015. For more information visit: www.geron.org/2015

Questions & Feedback:
If you have any questions, or material you'd like to share with other newsletter readers, please e-mail Mary Gergen at gv4@psu.edu

Past issues:
Past issues of the newsletter, including our translated issues in Spanish, German, French, Danish, Portuguese and Chinese are archived at: www.positiveaging.net
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]]>http://www.taosinstitute.net/2015-marchapril2015 Jan/Febhttp://www.taosinstitute.net/2015-janfebWed, 18 Mar 2015 05:00:00 GMTContent DeveloperDownload the newsletter in PDF format: Issue_90_Positive_Aging_Newsletter_Jan-Feb_2015.pdf THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER January/February, 2015 The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net) “THE BEST IN…INSIGHTS IN AGING” Wall Street Journal Issue No 90 COMMENTARY: Small Talk as Daily Bread RESEARCH: Strengths and Well-being in Older Adults IN THE NEWS: Priming the Positive Tips for A New Career BOOK REVIEW: The Age of Dignity: P...]]>Download the newsletter in PDF format: Issue_90_Positive_Aging_Newsletter_Jan-Feb_2015.pdf THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER January/February, 2015 The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net) “THE BEST IN…INSIGHTS IN AGING” Wall Street Journal Issue No 90 COMMENTARY: Small Talk as Daily Bread RESEARCH: Strengths and Well-being in Older Adults IN THE NEWS: Priming the Positive Tips for A New Career BOOK REVIEW: The Age of Dignity: P...Download the newsletter in PDF format: Issue_90_Positive_Aging_Newsletter_Jan-Feb_2015.pdf

THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER
January/February, 2015

The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen
Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net)

Small Talk as Daily Bread
I had never liked small talk; for me, it seemed to be directionless chit-chat about nothing in particular. Invitations to small talk were everywhere, invited by neighbors, friends, guests, my assistant at the office. It was there at dinner parties, on train rides, and on planes – should I ever give an opening to the person sitting next to me to talk. My concerns were elsewhere – to the “important things in life,” solving problems, making progress, and reaching goals. Those were matters truly worthy of conversation. In recent years, however, I have changed my mind about small talk. There is another story to be told about its value, and its special importance as we grow older.

For me the story began when I was giving a month of lectures at a university in St. Gallen, Switzerland. Because there was no guest-house for professors, I was quartered in the spacious apartment of an 86 year old widow. I didn’t look forward to my tenure in the household, because Frau Ferlein seemed introverted and spoke only German. At the same time, I was trying to better my fluency in the language, so a little conversation with her seemed a good idea. I began to notice, however, that as I asked her questions about her life, and intensely sought to comprehend her replies, a transformation began to take place. Her reticent voice acquired volume; her timidity gave way to humorous story telling. As the days went by, I too began to change. I found myself listening not to improve my language skills, but because she was simply fun to be with. I became animated by the exchanges, and by the end of two weeks we were rollicking good friends. At the end of my stay, parting was indeed sweet sorrow. When I returned to visit her the following year, much of her buoyant energy had sadly disappeared.

So, where lies the magic power of small talk? Consider this: Mary and I are taking a walk, and I casually say, “Hmm, seems to be clouding up.” Now contrast two possible responses, the first just a simple “hmm” as she stares straight ahead. The second is an energetic, “Oh well, at least we won’t be sunburned.” With the first response, something in my world also turns grey. I trudge onward in silence. With the second, the clouds now gain a new and more positive meaning. I may even chuckle. And what’s more, I myself take on significance. My step becomes lighter. For in her humorous response, Mary injects importance into the otherwise mundane. My interest is heightened. At the same time, she affirms my significance to her. I am brought into being as a person whose words – even if otherwise trivial – hold value. In small talk we hold our worlds together, we give these worlds color and dimension, and we affirm each other’s significance. Sometimes we also learn things we didn’t know or didn’t even know we wanted to know!

And so it is, as we grow older, as the ranks of our age-mates begin to thin, and the demands of working life are lessened, that we can appreciate anew the life-giving potentials of small talk. In the cheery greetings, a brief chat with neighbors, trading stories on the telephone, or sending small notes by email, text or mail, we animate the world about us. And in our daily lives with our partners, the small acts of appreciation, the attention we give to their well-being, the sympathetic gaze, or just the way we are energized when they enter the room, is significant. With small talk we affirm the significance of the realities we have created and enrich the world in which we live.

Strengths and Well-being in Older Adults
For our research review in this issue, we are indebted to Dr. Emma Kirkby-Geddes, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK. She provided us with a detailed summary of her illuminating study of aging and well-being. In the following we share some of her significant deliberations and findings.
“The afternoon of human life must also have an significance of its own and cannot merely be understood as a pitiful appendage to life’s morning”
- Carl Jung, 1930.
Psychology and the debate on ageing
Psychological research for the most part focuses on what is lost in old age; psychologists know much about cognitive decline and the diseases of old age but little about gains and potentiality in older adults. This study is an attempt to counter this negative bias. It aims to understand and report on the psychology of older adults using a positive focus by exploring psychological strengths and well-being.
Well-being – how it is defined by psychologists?
Psychologists define well-being in a number of ways. Broadly these are: hedonic and eudaimonic. Hedonic well-being measures how happy an individual feels based on the presence of positive emotion and absence of negative emotion coupled with how satisfied with life they are. Eudaimonic well-being is more concerned with measuring the happiness that comes from living a life that expresses inner values and a sense of purpose.
What was the study about?
This study aims to understand the relationship between psychological strengths - such as hope, gratitude, forgiveness, optimism and curiosity - and their relationship with well-being.
The study:
Part 1 – A survey/questionnaire-based study: In total 396 people – aged 65-85 - took part in the survey. These participants were not ill, and they were somewhat more educated than the general population of the same age.

They reported good mental health, with a low incidence of psychopathology.

Their well-being was comparable to younger adults, as measured by other research studies.

Additional findings related to well-being:

Those who were more active were also more curious and were more hopeful. These traits are often associated with achieving goals and are important for dealing with stress and illness.

Optimism and gratitude were consistently good at predicting well-being, both hedonic and eudaimonic.

Religious/spiritual people were more grateful and enjoyed greater well-being than others.

Final comments by Dr. Kirkby-Geddes
The study is also interesting in the following ways:

It showed me that psychology as a discipline is actually quite ageist, evident in the scarcity of data about strengths in older people. Most of what psychologist claim to know about psychological strengths is based on younger people.

It is important when trying to understand well-being, to include a measure which captures not just our feelings of happiness in the moment, but our feelings of living a purposeful life.

As a culture we seem to lack the words/vocabulary to adequately describe this latter stage in life as a positive experience. This may have implications for our ability to experience old age as positive.

Priming the Positive
We all carry visions or stereotypes of aging, some negative and some positive. How we feel and act at any given moment may depend on which of these stereotypes is most salient. For example, if someone offers you a seat on the bus, you may suddenly be defined as ”old,” but if grandchildren seek you out to play hide and seek, you feel as if you never grew older. Research suggests that these stereotypes may be stimulated or “primed” by very subtle cues. In a study published last year in Psychological Science, a group of 100 people, 61-99, in the New Haven area were tested with subliminal messages. Yale University researchers showed positive messages on a computer screen at a rapid rate, below conscious awareness. Words that contradicted negative stereotypes of aging such as “creative” and “spry” were flashed. Later the people who were exposed to the messages showed improved balance and other psychological and physical improvements. In addition they had developed stronger positive stereotypes of aging and weaker negative ones. Lead researcher Becca R. Levy described the changes as a “cascade effect” in which first the participants who had the subliminal messages gained a positive age stereotype, then stronger self-perceptions of aging, and last, improved physical functioning. Perhaps the take-home here is to keep oneself surrounded by positive primes – possibly some recent books, sports equipment, tools, or a stylish coat. Prepare the environment to prepare yourself.

Tips for A New Career
A majority of people who are planning to retiring from their usual job are also beginning to think about the next one. The idea of a new job, a new career, even, is one that is full of intrigue, and is an invitation to a new kind of work life. A majority of people who retire do end up doing some new work activity. Transitioning to a new field can be intimidating, but it can also be a revitalization of dreams. The Philadelphia Inquirer offers some tips for a career-change option.

Research new fields and professions. Look in the want ads, talk to friends, watch the internet for new positions and their requirements.

Talk to a career counselor. A good one will know the work world better than you, and have some suggestions for you to follow that you might not have thought about.

Set up an informational interview or shadow a professional or volunteer. Get a first hand sense of what working in this new area might be like.

Talk to professionals in the new field. What is their life like? What are the pros and cons, and especially how satisfied are they with their work?

Update your skills. Perhaps a retooling in some specific computer software package is in order, or returning to refresh some capacity you have already had earlier in your life.

Revamp your resume. You may need to stress skills and experiences that were irrelevant for your previous job.

Network! Join organizations related to your interest. Attend related events and conventions. Start talking and making connections. Recall prior connections you have had, but didn’t pursue back when you were otherwise occupied.

Get out and start applying for the new positions. Don’t let fear of rejection count you out before you begin.

Downshift. Consider part-time work. Be willing to settle for less. Let it be known that you would be a consultant working on your own schedule for your old organization or a new one. Be willing to trade money and prestige for the love of some new activity.

These may be useful tips, but as we the editors see it, they leave out one of the most significant possibilities: developing your own career! The possibilities for innovation are endless.

The Age of Dignity: Preparing for the Elder Boom in a Changing Americaby Ai-jen Poo
We thank Anna Galland for sending her review of this book:
How can we ensure that our aging loved ones live with dignity and independence, and that the people who care for them work with dignity as well? An important new book by Ai-jen Poo, a recent MacArthur "genius" award winner, asks that very question in The Age of Dignity: Preparing for the Elder Boom in a Changing America. This elder boom means that more and more of us are relying on our families and home care workers to help us live and stay at home as we age. But despite what our elected officials say, this elder boom is not a crisis—it's a blessing. That's why Ai-jen wrote The Age of Dignity. She's calling it an "organizing tool for building a movement for elder care and home care worker justice." As the number of elders in our nation increases, we'll need to count on professional home care workers more and more. And this workforce—the majority of whom are women, and many of whom are immigrants—is among the fastest-growing, lowest-paid workforces in the nation. This is not only unfair, it's unsustainable for all of us. In Ai-jen's book, she lays out a vision and solutions that will enable everyone to live and age at home if they choose, with dignity and care, while ensuring dignity for the care workforce. It's based on the belief that all of us have a stake in the creation of more care choices for families. And that our nation's policies and budget priorities should reorient toward this vision, in the name of a more just and sustainable future. In The Age of Dignity, Ai-jen shares stories from her own life, along with stories of families and workers on the front lines of the movement to transform care in America. These stories create a road map for how we can build the 21st-century care economy we all need to live and age with dignity.

Krishna Gautam writes from Nepal:
Dear friends of senior citizens,
It is pleasing to note that Ageing Nepal entered into its fifth year of serving the interest of older people. We are also happy for being a part of the successful launching of action/2015 campaign across the globe on 15th January 2015.

Great photos taken by Dr. Jeffrey Levine, a New York-based geriatric specialist and professional photographer.

Rabbi Dayle A. Friedman, returning from Jerusalem
Dear Mary,
I write this on the eve of Tu Rishvat, the New Year for the tree….This is the season at which the sap begins to rise within the trees of the land of Israel, signal of the new beginning of spring.

Beyond midlife, we, too, can experience renewal and fruitfulness, as the Psalmist writes and I translate: May we grow fruitful as we age, ripe and abundant and sage. Keep our hearts open to all we face, present to goodness, even a trace. Renew us, let our spirits soar, sustain us, our Rock, for more.

May 19-21, 2015: NCCA Creative Age: Creative Aging in America Washington, DC. This seminal event will bring together arts and humanities , health, and research professionals; artists; caregivers; and all who want to age creatively; to exchange best practices, build capacity in the field, and explore emerging research that will build the field of creative aging. More than 100 presenters from across the field of creative aging will lead conversations focusing on the practice, research, and business of creative aging.
Additional dynamic events surrounding the conference include the world premiere of the family comedy drama, The Blood Quilt, Kairos Community Dancehall, and a festive networking dinner and after party.

Questions & Feedback:
If you have any questions, or material you'd like to share with other newsletter readers, please e-mail Mary Gergen at gv4@psu.eduPast issues:
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]]>http://www.taosinstitute.net/2015-janfeb2014 Nov/Dechttp://www.taosinstitute.net/2014-novdecTue, 30 Dec 2014 06:00:00 GMTContent DeveloperDownload the newsletter in PDF format: Issue_89_Positive_Aging_Newsletter_Nov-Dec_2014.pdf THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER November/December, 2014 The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net) “THE BEST IN…INSIGHTS IN AGING” Wall Street Journal Issue No 89 COMMENTARY: Reconstruction as Resource RESEARCH: Exercise and Age The Benefits of Demanding Jobs IN THE NEWS: Scuba Diving for a Cause Employment After 55 BOOK REVIEW: The Upside...]]>Download the newsletter in PDF format: Issue_89_Positive_Aging_Newsletter_Nov-Dec_2014.pdf THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER November/December, 2014 The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net) “THE BEST IN…INSIGHTS IN AGING” Wall Street Journal Issue No 89 COMMENTARY: Reconstruction as Resource RESEARCH: Exercise and Age The Benefits of Demanding Jobs IN THE NEWS: Scuba Diving for a Cause Employment After 55 BOOK REVIEW: The Upside...Download the newsletter in PDF format: Issue_89_Positive_Aging_Newsletter_Nov-Dec_2014.pdf

THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER
November/December, 2014

The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net)

Reconstruction as Resource
We often encounter headlines warning of the hazards accompanying a long life – physical impairments, loss of memory, slackening abilities, the death of friends, and the like. But it’s also important to consider our common definitions of “hazard.” A broken leg is not simply a “painful setback.” That is a common way to define it, but not the only way. What if it could be defined as “an opportunity to read some novels that I never had time for,” or to “invite my children or grandchildren in for conversations for which we were always too busy”? What had been a reason for grimacing and, now becomes an inviting opportunity. As we see it, the capacity for redefining our condition is one of life’s major resources.

This conclusion has been vividly illustrated by two experiences of recent weeks. On the lighter side, we were fortunate enough to visit New York City’s Museum of Modern Art, and see a major exhibit of Matisse’s famous cut-outs. Many readers may recognize the graphic we include here. But one of the most interesting things about this blazing array of works was its origins. In his early 70’s Matisse’ eyesight was failing, and after surgery for cancer he was confined to a wheelchair. His days as a skilled painter were over. Rather than retiring from the scene, however, Matisse found that he could cut pieces of colored paper into shapes, and with the help on an assistant, arrange the shapes into collages. In the 14 years that followed, hundreds of works were produced. These became some of the most admired and influential works of his entire career. Effectively, Matisse had achieved a radical reconstruction. The world is all the richer as a result.

Closer to home, we were saddened to learn of the death of one of Ken’s college classmates, Carter Volz. The story he left behind, however, stands as a beacon for us all. Carter went on from Yale to receive an MBA, and to advance swiftly up the ranks in the corporate world. Within 20 years he became the Vice President of one of America’s top corporations. Then tragedy struck. Carter was mugged on a street in New York and left for dead. He did survive, but with serious brain damage, he was no longer able to hold his executive position. His time became devoted to recovery. It was during rehabilitation that he discovered Reiki, a Buddhist inspired form of hands-on healing. So effective did he find this form of therapy, that he began to learn the skill. Over time he became a Master, and apprenticed many students. Further, in the last twenty years of his life, he went on to write books on Reiki, Jungian analysis, grief, and self-healing. He reconstructed his life, with positive consequences for himself, as well as the world.

The lives of these two men underscore the enormous potentials residing in our capacities for reconstructing meaning. In exploring “new ways of seeing things,” we open new ways of being. As we grow older, this may be the key resource for well-being.

Exercise and Age
Active older people resemble much younger people physiologically, according to a new study of the effects of exercise on aging. The common view equating advancing years with physical decline may be off the mark.

In a new study, recently published in The Journal of Physiology, scientists in England decided to look more closely at the relationship between physical activity and well-being. “We wanted to understand what happens to the functioning of our bodies as we get older if we take the best-case scenario,” said Stephen Harridge, senior author of the study. To do this, the scientists recruited 85 men and 41 women, between 55 and 79 who bicycle regularly. The volunteers were all serious recreational riders, but not competitive athletes. The men had to be able to ride at least 62 miles in six and a half hours and the women 37 miles in five and a half hours, benchmarks typical of a high degree of fitness in older people.

The scientists then ran each volunteer through a large array of physical and cognitive tests. They determined each cyclist’s endurance capacity, muscular mass and strength, pedaling power, metabolic health, balance, memory function, bone density and reflexes. The researchers compared the results of cyclists in the study against each other and also against standard benchmarks of supposedly normal aging. As it turned out, the cyclists did not show their age. On almost all measures, their physical functioning remained fairly stable across the decades and was much closer to that of young adults than of people their age. As a group, even the oldest cyclists had younger people’s levels of balance, reflexes, metabolic health and memory ability.

Some aspects of decline did, however, remain. The oldest cyclists had less muscular power and mass than those in their 50s and early 60s and considerably lower overall aerobic capacities. Age does seem to reduce our endurance and strength to some extent, even if we exercise. But even so, both of those measures were higher among the oldest cyclists than the average among people aged 70 or above.

Dr. Harridge, himself almost 50 and an avid cyclist, said this study shows that “being physically active makes your body function on the inside more like a young person’s.

From: How Exercise Keeps us Young by Gretchen Reynolds, New York Times, Jan. 7, 2015, Phys Ed, pg. 1. http://nyti.ms/1yz5SUuThe Benefits of Demanding Jobs
A recent research study investigated the mental acuity of a large group of 70 year old Scots within various occupations. In general, it was found that people with intellectually demanding jobs, those requiring flexibility, focus, problem-solving, and lots of interaction with others, were smarter and had better memories than those whose jobs were less cognitively demanding. This finding held up even after accounting for early differences in intelligence, education and childhood circumstances.

Among men and women who worked with complex data, not only did they maintain a high level of intelligence, but their speed of processing incoming stimulation remained high. Their general intelligence, memory and IQ were higher at age 70 than for those who had less complex jobs.

This research suggests that if we become involved in more complex work as we age, we can compensate for early childhood limitations. However, bright children, who engage in simple, repetitive work will lose some of their abilities as they age.

Scuba Diving for a Cause
The Garden City Underwater Recovery Unit of Milford, NJ is an all volunteer group, many of whom are experienced scuba divers. They specialize in handling virtually any type of water-rescue emergency in and around NJ and the tri-state area. Since their creation in 1957 the members have responded to thousands of incidents involving drowning victim recoveries, police searches, underwater structural inspections, and flood rescues. They are often called in to help find the bodies of those who have died in water accidents.

The scuba divers are men and women who have been engaged in this volunteer work for many years. Interestingly, the average age of the divers is over 50. Despite regular employment and family activities, they devote themselves to this community service. Unlike most rescue units, theirs is entirely self-supporting, and they receive no financial aid from any governmental agency. To support their work, they do various forms of fundraising. They meet every Thursday evening, and spend most of their time together training for various emergencies and underwater tasks. Check out their website at www.GSURU.ORG.
Grandmother: The New Game in Town
This generation of women is getting a new lease on life as they acquire the title of grandmother. The Boomers are making a difference in how this next phase of life is being defined. No more on the periphery of their grandchildren’s lives, but rather, active contributors to the well-being of their off-springs’ off-springs. Credit for much of this new model of grandparenting must be given to the longer life span and healthier conditions of older people. In the last 100 years, women’s lives have been extended by 25 years, on average. For many women, being a grandmother can be a “do-over” time, giving their grandchildren the care and attention they were too busy to offer their own children when they were young. For many women, the care they give grandchildren is also a gift they give their own daughters and sons, helping them feel that they are giving their children gold-plated care at no cost.

For many grandparents, the benefits of the internet have enlivened family ties, with texting, emails and Skype calls expanding connections. One grandma in Washington DC makes a monthly trip to Boston to visit two granddaughters, and she goes to Israel to visit her daughter’s family for a month every year. The role of grandparent extends one’s commitments to the world, as well as to one’s own families. As one grandmother said, “We care more about what lies ahead. We care about the earth, air and water, the legacy we’re going to leave behind.”

Employment After 55
Generally speaking, the older we are, the harder it is to find a job. For those over 55 the length of unemployment is about one year. For younger employees it is 7 months. Ageist assumptions are part of the problem, and older job seekers need to find ways to combat them. Among the false assumptions are the ideas that older people will not stay on the job; that they are less productive than younger workers, that they want higher salaries, and that they are techno-illiterate. Some hints for getting hired include these recommendations, according to various researchers in the field:

Try to look fit and energetic. Pay attention to the dress styles of places you would like to work. Feel good about your appearance.

Include in your resume something that indicates your comfort with technology.

Get career counseling or attend workshops that encourage and help people find work.

Use your networks, keep up with people, meet new people. At least half of all jobs are filled through personal contacts.

Explore consulting and contract work, which can be short-term, project-based or seasonal.

The Upside: How Long Life is Changing the World of Health, Work, Innovation, Policy, and Purpose by Paul H. Irving (Ed.) (2014). New York: Wiley.
In this optimistic review of aging in the western world, Paul Irving, President of the Milken Institute, gathered together a group of outstanding scholars who find the silver lining in various aspects of aging, from the personal to the political. In 16 chapters, these experts share their views about aging and the changes that can be expected in the future in various facets of aging. These areas of life that will be changing are highly varied, including medicine, marketing, the global economy, lifestyle choices, political activities, urban planning, financial security, and the meaning of this third stage of life.

Although the chapters are diverse, the overall theme is that some exciting, challenging, and positive things are going to take place in terms of living well in old age, especially in the western world. In Laura L. Carstensen’s chapter, for example, the benefits of growing older are summarized. As we have described in previous newsletters, older people are wiser than younger people; they continue to add to the stores of their knowledge, as they age; they are more emotionally balanced, and can see events from multiple perspectives; and they are more comfortable in their skins – less likely to be anxious or depressed than younger people.

In Pinchas Cohen’s chapter, the emphasis is on the diversities of aging people. “The portrait of ‘healthy aging’ will differ for each person, but this approach provides many opportunities for empowering people to make choices that are best for them, socially and scientifically.” (pg.31). Medical advances of various types are reviewed in Freda Lewis-Hall’s chapter, “The Bold New World of Healthy Aging” in which she highlights the technical wizardry that will be improving our well-being in years to come, from a smart toilet that analyzes our urine, blood pressure and weight, to 3-D printers that could make a new liver.

“Disruptive Demography: The New Business of Old Age,” a chapter by Joseph Coughlin of the MIT AgeLab, along with and Ken Dychtwald in his chapter, “A Longevity Market Emerges” review questions of how businesses can design and deliver products and services to meet the needs of older populations, and how government and non-profit organizations can become involved in this enterprise. Coughlin describes older adults as disrupting the taken for granted tendencies of businesses to ignore the older population. Businesses do this at their own risk. Other chapters are dedicated to issues of employment, philanthropy, education, minority status, and a brief exploration of Healthy Aging in Britain and other parts of the world.

In contrast to the dire predictions that the increasing size of the aging population is a danger to the well-being of the young, these authors outline many ways in which the elderly population benefits society. In a highly readable style, with many personal stories, the book provides a succinct and optimistic picture of what our world, with many more older people in it, will become. These may be the golden years that have often been imagined as the rightful heritage of those blessed with a long life. And happily, the prospects for the younger generations are also seen in glowing terms as well. MMG

Philip F Crouch writes from Tasmania, Australia:
Dear Mary,
My name is Philip F Crouch aged 67 years passionate, based in Tasmania, Australia. Firstly, I'd like to say thank you for the BRILLIANT Positive Aging newsletter for which I became a recent subscriber. In context, as far as I'm aware we don’t have similar publications in Australia that communicate this format and readability of information promoting Positive Ageing [in Australia we use the 'e' in Ageing] to the wider community.

Locally, part of the community project Soul Work Ensemble, www.soulworkensemble.org consists of central themes, including: Dreams, Spirituality, Conscious and Creative Ageing, Eldering, Meditation, Paranormal and similar. In addition, a quarterly newsletter, SoulWork-eNEWS, home based group, "Circle of Wisdom" for persons age fifty and more, and currently I'm developing an introductory manual for the "Soul Table Talk" Conscious Ageing - A Journey in the Second Half of Life community service activity. Also in May of 2015 will facilitate a Conscious Ageing workshop at a seniors’ conference in Tasmania.

If requested, I am happy to submit more detailed information about the above. Inspirationally, the project began intuitively following an inner yearning to move beyond a seniors theatre group which I directed/performed/wrote for 2006-2012. As they often say in boomer classics …the beat goes. Thank you for reading this email, and for your brilliant informative succinct newsletter. All the very best for Christmas and may you and your team along with the Taos readers have a healthy, positive, creative and spiritually fulfilling 2015.

Kindest regards, Philip F Crouch

Jakob Nørlem, from Copenhagen, Denmark, sent us the following:
Cycling Without Age is a movement started in 2012 by Ole Kassow. Ole wanted to help the elderly get back on their bicycles, but he had to find a solution to their limited mobility. The answer was a rickshaw, and he started offering free bike rides to the local nursing home residents. He then got in touch with a civil society consultant, Dorthe Pedersen, at the municipality of Copenhagen, who was intrigued by the idea and together they bought the first 5 rickshaws and launched Cycling Without Age, which has now spread to all corners of Denmark and Norway.

Volunteers sign up for bike rides with the elderly through a simple booking system as often or as rarely as they want to. It’s all driven by the volunteers’ own motivation. At present, more than 30 municipalities in Denmark offer Cycling Without Age from over 140 rickshaws – and the numbers are still growing. More than 500 volunteers ensure that the elderly get out of their nursing homes, out on the bikes to enjoy the fresh air and the community around them. They give them the right to wind in their hair.

We are working on spreading the movement to other countries, so if you are interested in starting a chapter in your city, sign up here: http://cyclingwithoutage.org/your-city/. Currently more than 40 countries across the world are ready to get started.

Ole Kassow also did a TEDxCopenhagen talk about Cycling without age - Get the full story about how it all began and how bikes, conversations and experiences bring life to both young and old people.
Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6Ti4qUa-OU

March 23-27, 2015 Aging in America Conference, the annual conference of the American Society on Aging, at the Hyatt Regency, Chicago, will offer five days of intensive learning, networking and community-building. With topics relating to aging in community, retirement, health and wellness, elder justice, caregiving, older workforce, long-term services and supports, and public policy, Aging in America is an important event for all who want to better understand older adults, their challenges and their potential. Visit www.asaging.org/aia to learn more.

]]>http://www.taosinstitute.net/2014-novdec2014 Sept/Octhttp://www.taosinstitute.net/2014-septoctFri, 05 Dec 2014 06:00:00 GMTContent DeveloperDownload the newsletter in PDF format: Issue_88_Positive_Aging_Newsletter_Sept-Oct_2014.pdf THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER September/October, 2014 The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net) “THE BEST IN…INSIGHTS IN AGING” Wall Street Journal Issue No 88 COMMENTARY: The Power of Conversation RESEARCH: Remembering the Good Things Music and Memory IN THE NEWS: Are There Gains Through Brain Games? Purpose Prize Salutes 2014 Winners...]]>Download the newsletter in PDF format: Issue_88_Positive_Aging_Newsletter_Sept-Oct_2014.pdf THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER September/October, 2014 The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net) “THE BEST IN…INSIGHTS IN AGING” Wall Street Journal Issue No 88 COMMENTARY: The Power of Conversation RESEARCH: Remembering the Good Things Music and Memory IN THE NEWS: Are There Gains Through Brain Games? Purpose Prize Salutes 2014 Winners...Download the newsletter in PDF format: Issue_88_Positive_Aging_Newsletter_Sept-Oct_2014.pdf

THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER
September/October, 2014

The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net)

The Power of Conversation
Recently the two of us were in Nanjing, China, giving lectures. There we met a graduate student from Nanjing Normal University, Tian-fang Liu. Liu was acquainted with the Chinese translation of the Newsletter, and was eager to tell us about an experience of striking significance to her. The story was indeed touching, and has significant implications for us all. We are happy to feature here her story: “About three months ago, I volunteered for a nursing home where I met Sha, a 94 year old woman. At my first visit, she was lying on her bed in a darkened room, like a wooden, lifeless puppet. Her face was tired, listless, and dull.

When I started talking to her, she slurred in her native accent: ‘Don’t you know how old am I? I’m nine--ty… years…old…ol--d enough. I have lived long----enough in the world, just waiting for approaching death. I am a worthless being, not needed anymore. That’s why I live in this institution…I was abandoned by my three sons…I have nothing to do at all except wait for death.’ At that moment, I was terribly sad, shocked…and then angry: Is this the kind of life women entering old age should deserve? They have sacrificed themselves to their family, children and society, and this is the return!!!

As a young graduate student, I have no power or money; perhaps the only resource I have is my education. After returning to the university, I started to search for research on positive aging, and to talk with my supervisor, colleagues and friends about this woman. As they suggested, it might be helpful to be curious about the woman’s life. Ask questions, like how she was able to survive during the Second World War (She was 17 in 1937 when it began) and the Cultural Revolution from 1966 to 1976, to make her sense her good fortune. On my next visit I took their suggestions, and began to inquire into her life. She began to recount the hard times she had come through, but also sharing her stories of good fortune. In response, I also began to share some of my stories with her; I found her delighted to give me advice. As we conversed, I gradually found myself asking more questions and learning so much, for example, how to run a restaurant, what it’s like to be married and become pregnant, how to raise and educate children, how to cook, and how to keep healthy. Perhaps she began to realize, just as I did, how capable, competent, skillful experienced, and worthwhile she is. What a colorful life she had. When I left that day, she was smiling.

I continued to visit, and we continued to talk together. As I began to see, she was tidying her bed and cleaning the room. She began to actively bathe herself rather than waiting for a social worker’s help. Sometimes she goes for a little walk in corridor, and even sings old songs to me when the time is right. Recently I discovered that every time I came, there was an empty chair beside her which, it seemed, was prepared for my arrival. The last time I was going to leave, she waved to me and said:” Do come to clean the chair next week!” Because a chair would be dusty if no one sits, this is a way we warmly invite people to visit us frequently.

So powerful are the effects of good conversation that I now seek ways to help Sha find other partners in the home. This has not been easy. But it is essential. As Sha complained to me:” I now realize that talking is good, but if no one responds to you, how do you talk? Talk with yourself? Are you insane?” I shall also try to involve Sha’s daughters and her sons and daughters-in-law; her children’s visiting is her final dream.
- - Tian-fang Liu

Remembering the Good Things
Gerontologists have often found that older people tend to remember their lives as more positive than younger people do. This tendency is called the “positivity effect”. It is not clear why it is that older people do this more than younger ones. This research contrasted two different hypotheses as to the reasons for the positivity effect. Might it be the way older people evaluate life events, or do the elderly just have very selective memories?

In two different studies, these researchers tried to compare these two central ideas. In the first study a group of older and younger participants had to report on one positive and one negative event for 5 days. A week later the same people were asked to recall these events. Younger people followed the instructions and gave complete answers to the request to report these ten events. Older people complied by reporting the positive events, but 38% of them did not report a negative event for all 5 days. A week later both groups reported accurately on the events they had reported. In the second study, both groups were asked to imagine positive, negative or neutral events happening to themselves or to an acquaintance. In a later session, older adults rated themselves as having much more positive experiences than the younger adults did. There was no difference between the two age groups in terms of remembering what they had imagined.

These two studies suggest that there are no memory deficits among the older people, as they recalled events as well as the younger people. What does distinguish them is that the older people seem to rate their experiences as more positive than the younger people do. The world seems to grow rosier with age.

From: Does the Age-Related Positivity Effect in Autobiographical Recall Reflect Differences in Appraisal or Memory? By Emily Schryer and Michael Ross, Journal of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Studies and Social Sciences, 2014, 69, 548-556 Music and Memory
What is the effect of music on memory? Recent research reveals the potential of music to help people remember the past as well as learn new information. Here are a few of the studies recently reported: A 2010 study at Boston University suggested that music might help people with short-term memory loss learn new information. A neuropsychologist, Brandon Ally, studied two groups of people who were cognitively healthy. The participants were asked to remember information that was relayed to them in a variety of ways -- printed, spoken, and sung. The researchers found that the participants from both groups retained the most information when they received it through song. Importantly, cognitive status did not alter this trend: even after the effects of dementia had set in, music continued to stimulate and improve memory. No pharmaceuticals were required.

While listening to music seems helpful for the aging brain, performing music seems even better. Nina Kraus, from the Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory at Northwestern University, studied the brains of musicians and non-musicians, both young and old. Her research team attached electrodes to the heads of 87 participants, in order to track their memory and sound processing skills. If a participant was eating dinner with a friend in a crowded restaurant, the electrodes would measure how quickly the individual processed his or her friend's voice through the clamor of surrounding noises. The two main factors in the experiment were age and musical experience. Half of the participants had considerable musical training and a lifetime of experience performing music, while the other half had little or no experience as musicians.

The results of this research indicated that musical experience was more important than age when it came to understanding and remembering sounds. The musicians, no matter how old they were, were found to have stronger memories and stronger sound processing skills.

If your relationship with music has waned over the years, consider rekindling it. In addition to being enjoyable in its own right, music seems to be good for the brain. If music lessons are a thing of the past, why not pick them up again. If you have never played an instrument, it may be just the time to learn. At best, musical experiences are profoundly fulfilling on an emotional and spiritual level.

From: Echoes: On Music and Memory by Adam Johnson , TheBostonPilot.com www.musicandmemory.org)

Are There Gains Through Brain Games?
Listening to the local radio station, one frequently hears ads encouraging you to play the games that enrich your mental capabilities. Luminosity and Posit Science are two of the most well-known companies that make claims that their products will give your brain a new lease on life.

Psychologists have been studying these claims by running experiments that compare the outcomes of older people who engage in cognitive training and control groups who do less invigorating things. The results are mixed, but not pessimistic: some upgrades in cognitive activities can be achieved through participating in the training.

In one study Glenn Smith, a neuropsychologist at the Mayo Clinic, tested a group of healthy people over 65, who had practiced computer games designed to improve listening abilities. This group made significant improvements in tests of memory and attention. They also claimed that their coping in everyday life had improved. Three months later the effects of the training were diminishing. In another study, effects of the training could still be seen 10 years after the study was finished. These participants were taught strategies for problem-solving, which were integrated into their everyday life. One indicator of the program’s success was related to driving records. Those people who were in the experimental group, which stressed speed-reasoning had 50% fewer at-fault collisions.

Mind games seen to be most helpful to children and older adults, especially those who are least competent at the beginning of a study. Younger adults don’t seem to benefit much. Although there seem to be gains for older people from these games, very few studies have been done to evaluate them, their long-term effects, or if time spent learning a new language or skill might be more productive. For example a recent look at a variety of studies suggests that regular aerobic exercise is as helpful in improving intellectual capacities as mind games. Perhaps the bottom line is that effortful activities can enhance one’s intellectual skills, however one prefers to engage in the world.

Purpose Prize Salutes 2014 Winners
Every year the Purpose Prizes are given to six people who are at least 60 years old and who have made a positive difference in the lives of others. This year, the six are very different from each other in many ways, but similar in that they have done a lot more with their senior years than sit in the rocking chair on the porch watching the world go by (although that sounds like a rather charming activity to investigate sometime.)

Winner David Campbell, 72, who will receive $100,000, began the creation of his organization after the 2004 tsunami, which hit countries bordering on the Indian Ocean. He went for a brief visit to Thailand, and ended up staying a month. Ten years later he runs All Hands Volunteers, a nonprofit organization based in Massachusetts. So far it has sent 28,000 people to 45 global disasters abroad, from Haiti to Peru, to Bangladesh, as well as in the U. S., to help after the devastation of tornadoes, hurricanes and flooding. The volunteers do what is needed at each site, from rebuilding houses to helping school children get back to their classrooms. The volunteers receive tools, meals, and living arrangements from the non-profit.

A second major winner is Charles Irvin Fletcher, 76, who had a lifelong interest in horses and riding. After he retired, he spent five year and 5,000 hours volunteering at a therapeutic riding center in Dallas. The center is designed to help children with disabilities. He was disappointed that the children’s gains were not as great as he would have liked. He dedicated himself to researching ways to improve the outcomes of therapeutic riding. In 2001 he founded Spirit-Horse International, a nonprofit organization near Dallas. His ranch is the headquarters for a worldwide network of 91 therapeutic riding centers for children in the U. S., South America, Africa, and Europe. In Texas, about 400 children receive free weekly riding sessions on his ponies. The children suffer from various medical conditions, including autism, cerebral palsy, and spina bifida. Mr. Fletcher believes that the horses can feel love, gratitude and approval, and they return these feelings to the children. The children improve as a result of their encounters with the horses.

Other winners of the $25,000 prizes include Rev. Richard Joyner, 62, who created a congregational garden; Dr. Pamela Cantor, 66, a child psychiatrist who runs an organization called Turnaround for Children in New York City; Mauricio Lim Miller, 68, who founded the Family Independence Initiative, in Oakland, CA. This organization helps families in poverty to pool their resources as members of lending circles, which helps them pay down their debts and save for new enterprises. The final winner, Kate Williams, 72, runs an employment program designed to help blind and visually impaired people find work.

The Purpose Prize was created by Encore.org, a nonprofit that is building a movement to tap the skills and experience of those in midlife and beyond to improve communities. Ann MacDougall, president of Encore suggested that “An increasing number of people over 60 want to leave a legacy and do something that makes their children proud.” This year’s winners are certainly role models for others who begin their retirement lives.

From: Gaining in Years, and Helping Others to Make Gains, by Kerry Hannon, New York Times, October 25, 2014, B5.Grandmother: The New Game in Town
This generation of women is getting a new lease on life as they acquire the title of grandmother. The Boomers are making a difference in how this next phase of life is being defined. No more on the periphery of their grandchildren’s lives, but rather, active contributors to the well-being of their off-springs’ off-springs. Credit for much of this new model of grandparenting must be given to the longer life span and healthier conditions of older people. In the last 100 years, women’s lives have been extended by 25 years, on average. For many women, being a grandmother can be a “do-over” time, giving their grandchildren the care and attention they were too busy to offer their own children when they were young. For many women, the care they give grandchildren is also a gift they give their own daughters and sons, helping them feel that they are giving their children gold-plated care at no cost.

For many grandparents, the benefits of the internet have enlivened family ties, with texting, emails and Skype calls expanding connections. One grandma in Washington DC makes a monthly trip to Boston to visit two granddaughters, and she goes to Israel to visit her daughter’s family for a month every year. The role of grandparent extends one’s commitments to the world, as well as to one’s own families. As one grandmother said, “We care more about what lies ahead. We care about the earth, air and water, the legacy we’re going to leave behind.”

Being Mortal, Medicine and What Matters in the End.by Atul Gawande, From the New York Times, November 8, 2014
Dr. Atul Gawande has written a book that challenges the medical profession to change the way doctors deal with debilitating conditions among their patients. Rather than being dedicated to healing disease and staving off death, Dr. Gawande believes the focus should be on well-being. Given the eventual decline in bodily robustness, everyone concerned should be able to engage with changes in ways that enhance living rather than avoiding dying. Doctors tend to focus on diseases, which often diminishes the possibilities of living well. Families often focus on older members being “safe”, rather than living with a sense of meaningfulness. Most important is that people are able to shape their lives, at any age, so as to feel some sense of purpose. Assisted living units and nursing homes often prevent this sense by over-caring. People have priorities beyond living as long as possible, regardless of the cost.

Life Beyond Achievement
A little league baseball team from our area recently had a chance to win the national finals. In the end they lost, but when they returned home they were treated to a hero’s parade. I smiled with appreciation…but then a pause. After all, how many little league teams had competed and lost? And at what a young age all these kids began to worry about winning and losing…and mostly losing. Of course, they also have such worries in school, where performance evaluation is an everyday concern. “How well will I do; how good am I; where do I stand in comparison to others?” Then, we leave school only to face a new set of hoops: “How well will I perform at my job; how good am I; how much money will I earn; am I a good enough parent; are my children living up to their abilities?” From early years to retirement, it’s all about measuring up.

Of course, the good word for all this is “achievement,” and achievement can be fun – especially if you are a success! But there is always the pressure, the doubt, and the next day’s challenge. More importantly, when we spend our lives trying to jump over hurdles, we begin to see life this way. We begin to ask, “Where is the next goal; what should I be accomplishing today?” We slowly forget how it is to live without climbing the next mountain. When I was young the neighborhood kids would get together and play…anything and everything we could think of. We made up games, built a fort in the woods, ran a magic show, threw snowballs, played doctor…We didn’t set out to accomplish anything; we would just play for the fun of it. I think now that if there had been a little league team, were observed by a coach and parents, and winning was the point, we would not have been “playing”. We would have been achieving! We would play in order to win…not just for the creative fun of it. Our outdoor life would have become dutiful, not free.

One of the joys of living long enough is that we can again, much more fully, tune into the process of living. We can take a walk – not to get someplace, but to enjoy the scenery or a passing conversation. We can jog or ride a bike, not as a means of training, but for the enjoyment of the movement. We can paint, cook, do some woodworking, go fishing, write poetry, read a book, have a conversation, or work in the garden – not to accomplish some goal – but for the sheer pleasure of doing these things. Sure, there can be good results of our efforts. But now it’s the process that counts; any accomplishment is just frosting on the cake. As Henry Miller once said, “The moment one gives full attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.” This is fully living within the process.
Ken Gergen

The Internet as Antidote to Depression
Being retired and alone can be a threat to well-being, especially as one ages. In many countries, there is the increasing threat of depression. In this study over 3,000 older people from the national Health and Retirement survey were assessed 4 times from 2002-2008. The respondents were evaluated for signs of depression and for the extent of their internet use. Overall they found that when these people used the internet, their mental health was good, and there was a reduction of reports of depression by over 30%. A reduction was found in the sample overall, but the effect was especially profound for older people who were living alone. When others were living in the household, the effects were lessened.

The research did not analyze the type of internet usage that was contributing to the reduction in depression, but any type of interaction appeared to reduce loneliness and isolation. Given that internet use is a form of connection, with many possible purposes, it may be useful to suggest that whenever and wherever possible, older, retired people living alone should be assured of having an internet connection that is meaningful to them.

Re-gaining Muscle Power
Many of the falls suffered by older people are related to weakening muscular strength. According to recent research, given the right muscular training, it is possible to recover from a threat to balance, and remain upright instead of falling. To counteract the tendency to fall, training programs are being designed to help people build muscles. This study investigated the effects of 12 weeks of explosive-type heavy-resistance training for 60–65 and 80–89 year old women dwelling in their own homes. This type of exercise involves heavy weights that are lifted as rapidly as possible. The researchers found that this training seems to be safe and well tolerated in healthy women even in the eighth decade of life. Importantly, this exercise also affected the neuromuscular changes that are commonly associated with the risk of falls and disability among those in advanced age. This exercise program led to significant enhancement in neuromuscular performance even among the oldest women. The present results suggest that following explosive-type resistance training, elderly individuals are more capable of rapidly responding to threats to their physical balance, for example when stepping off a curb unexpectedly. These women have an increased ability to prevent a fall compared with untrained age-matched individuals.

Importantly, international guidelines for physical activity for older adults suggest a training frequency of three to five times a week. However, it is often a problem to motivate individuals to take part in such vigorous training programs. The present data demonstrated that healthy elderly women can effectively benefit from participating in low-frequency training programs at least when explosive muscle actions are involved.
Other research indicates that the same finding proves true with men of all ages. As researchers suggest, “True strength development requires you to lift heavy loads—light load training …just won’t do it.” Heavy training has carryover for power as long as one focuses on intentional explosive force. The results suggest that one will get stronger, faster, and improve endurance and body composition by lifting heavy loads.

Brain Decline? Not in the Morning!
Early birds not only catch more worms, but it seems that humans who are up early also are advantaged in terms of cognitive activity. But what about age? Does increasing age reduce this ability? To study the affects of time of day on cognitive performance, researchers gave a series of memory tests to younger and older adults in morning and afternoon sessions. Eighteen adults aged 60 to 87 took the tests between 8:30 and 10:30 in the morning. In the afternoon, between 1:00 and 5:00, another 16 adults in the same age range took the tests. The same tests were given at the same times to 16 younger adults (ages 19 to 30). The tests included performance on a series of tasks where pictures and words were flashed on a computer screen while irrelevant words and pictures interfered with their concentration. At the same time, researchers scanned participants’ brains with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Interestingly, in the morning there were only small differences between the young and the old. According to psychologist Ulrich Mayr, “The brain of an older adult tested in the morning looks more like a young adult.” The study did find significant differences between older and younger people’s brain scans when the tests were in the afternoon. The findings show “the typical effect of aging is reduced when older adults are tested at the ideal time of day,”

As psychologists John Anderson commented, “It’s good news…Older adults are more focused and better able to ignore distraction in the morning than in the afternoon…Cognitive decline is not as drastic as people thought it was.” Researchers suggest that older adults might do well to schedule intellectually challenging tasks in the morning, when they are likely to be most alert. As Dr. Lynn Hasher observes, "Since older adults tend to be morning-type people, ignoring time of day when testing them on some tasks may create an inaccurate picture of age differences in brain function."

Older people perform better in the morning By Ronnie Cohen, Psychology and Aging, July 7, 2014.

Natural Light: A Winner
For those who spend a good part of the day inside, it makes a difference as to which room you spend most of your time. As research suggests, try to avoid spending most of your time in rooms without natural sunlight beaming through the window. According to this research, office workers who are exposed to natural light during the day are happier, report better health, sleep better and are more likely to be active throughout the day then their counterparts who work in windowless offices. The research was done with 49 day-shift workers, including 27 in windowless workplaces and 22 in offices with windows. Workers with windows tended to be higher up on the pay and power scale, so these factors were also considered. Previous research showed the importance of natural light for alertness, improving sleep and maintaining cognitive performance. If you are stuck in an interior space, either at work or at home, it might be a good idea to go out of your way each day to get a bit of sunshine.

Seniors at Play
In a whimsically playful mood, the Contilia Retirement Group in Essen, Germany created a calendar in which they recreated famous movie scenes. According to German press, 50,00 calendars were printed, and they were given out to residents of the senior center, along with relatives and staff. The calendar models were interviewed about the project and said it was a ton of fun to dress up as their favorite actors. The shoot was done with professional stylists and photographers to make sure everything looked as cool as possible. The oldest senior involved with the calendar was 98 years old!

“The Price of Love” by Colin Murray Parkes. Routledge, 2014.Guest Reviewer: Dr. Margaret Stroebe
If any book can give us the sense of a personal worth, of a life still magnificently being spent as an octogenarian, ¬it is this one. “The Price of Love” compiles a self-chosen selection of the works of Colin Murray Parkes, an internationally-renowned British psychiatrist, who continues to dedicate his career to the understanding and care of bereaved people, both as a researcher and practitioner. His contributions, represented in this volume, range from scientific understanding of the underlying phenomena and manifestations of grief and grieving to the development of national bereavement care services, and from individually supporting the dying and bereaved, to heartbreaking, grueling experiences as consultant and advisor in disasters across the world. The selection reflects the evolution of Parkes’s own remarkable work and historical developments across the various domains of his involvement.

This is not just a book for easy academic reference to an author’s diverse contributions; it is one that draws us into the journey of an exceptional lifetime. On a personal note: as a bereavement researcher, I have followed Colin Murray Parkes’s career closely and read most of his work over the years. And yet, put together for the World Library of Mental Health series, this selection took me by total surprise and moved me to the core. His lifetime’s contribution unfolds; his added reflections speak deeply to one from these pages.

His closing words reflect his approach to life and work and are fitting ones here: “Love and loss, it seems, can contribute to some of the darkest, saddest and most painful aspects of life. Indeed, the cost of commitment can be very high. Any simplistic and sentimental idea that we may have had that love solves all problems must be set aside. And yet our commitment to care, which is another aspect of love, may also hold the key to solving those problems and to discovering that the price of love can be a price worth paying.” (Parkes, 2014, pp. 230-231)

Ellen Cole writes:
Hi Mary! Thought readers of the Positive Aging Newsletter might be interested in an account of my now two+ year-old hip replacement. It was recently published in the Huffington Post, and to my surprise elicited 30 comments. I think it must have encouraged others to consider their own infirmities or medical issues in a more accepting and positive way.

MEMOIRS: "Writing Meaningful Memoirs” (Oct. 10-11, 2014, Park City, UT). An interactive seminar presented by Nan Phifer and the Life Story Library Foundation, at Silver Baron Lodge, 2900 Deer Valley Dr. East, Park City, Utah. Nan Phifer, author of MEMOIRS OF THE SOUL, leads participants to identify significant events in their lives and tell their story in written form. For registration details visit: http://www.lifestorylibrary.org or email info@lifestorylibrary.org or (888) 827-8893

Oct 27-Nov. 2, 2014: A SEASONAL CELEBRATION OF CRONES IN AUTUMN through SACRED CIRCLE DANCE at GHOST RANCH in New Mexico --we will dance where Georgia O’Keefe painted. Sacred Circle Dances are moving meditations that embody and integrate mind, body and spirit. These simple, gentle dances have ancient roots in music and dance from around the world. No previous dance experience is needed. Our philosophy of dance, “There are no mistakes, only variations.” Workshop fee $435 + 6 nights lodging and food. Register at www.ghostranch.org Or call 505-685-4333 ext. 4155,

Feb. 27-28, 2015. The University of Toronto is sponsoring a Symposium, "Playing Age," This symposium asks how aging can be investigated through the playfulness of artistic representations. The Symposium will explore works produced by musicians, video game designers, theatre and performance artists, film makers and authors--works that enable us to recognize aging as not only a biological process but also as malleable, culturally mediated experiences. Symposium co-organizers, Profs. Marlene Goldman (mgoldman@chass.utoronto.ca) and Lawrence Switzky (lawrence.switzky@utoronto.ca)

A Unique Joy of Aging
We often like to think about aging as a stage of life, and like others, one that harbors both difficult challenges and openings to new and wonderful possibilities. As we moved from infancy to childhood, childhood to teens, and teens to adulthood, there were always struggles – pleasures disrupted, difficult learning curves to confront. Simultaneously there were great rewards – new possibilities, new pleasures, and so on. In this vein, as we write about positive aging, we like to emphasize the rewarding aspects of aging. So often these are swept aside as we recite the list of losses. We became especially aware of one unique pleasure of aging as we watched on television the final tennis match at Wimbledon. The championship at Wimbledon pitted the longstanding veteran Roger Federer against a much younger Novak Djokovic. The latter was at the top of the world’s standings, and much favored. Indeed, after a grueling struggle, he won the match. From our viewpoint, however, what was so special about the entire tournament was how reverently the tennis gurus, the newspaper reporters, and the television commentators spoke of Federer. They showered him with compliments regarding his form, his versatility, his “cool” and his elegant play. Much this same respect was reflected in the crowd’s support of Federer across the entire tournament.

In our view, this kind of respectful reverence is reserved for those who have made a sustained contribution to the world – great or small. Such a contribution may be highly visible, including the efforts of athletes, dancers, singers, musicians, and other artists who thrive, despite the competition from those who are younger. In military and economic ventures, in politics, religion, and law, the old warriors are revered for their long-term accomplishments. However, the same may be said for many of the folks around us – those who have shown enduring character, love, dedication, sacrifice, generosity, and so on. These dear people acquire a special reverence, one that is unavailable to the young. Not only do they earn our deepest gratitude and respect, but they also symbolize hope for the future.
- - Mary and Ken

Happily Ever After: Does the Myth Come True?
How do marriages hold up over time? Data from a study of the changing lives of older couples gives us some interesting answers. The study included over a thousand people and focused on the marital satisfactions of older married people. Participants in the study answered questions regarding how happy their marriage was in general, and then specific questions regarding positive and negative characteristics. The positives included such questions as “I make my spouse feel loved” and “My spouse is willing to listen to me.” For negatives they rated items such as “I am upset with our marriage” and “My spouse is critical of me”.

The good news from the study is that approximately 60% of the participants had high marital satisfaction scores and had many positive things to say about their marriages, with few negative things mentioned. About 30% had both positive and negative things to say, and the small remainder had negative profiles related to their marriages. If marriages last, they turn out to be quite happy!

The researchers were interested in the gender differences in terms of the qualities they rated in their marriages. In general, men were more satisfied with their marriages than women; they consistently made more positive assessments of their wives’ treatment of them than did the women of their husbands. At the same time, the “men tend to offer excessively positive evaluations of themselves relative to those offered by their partner on dimensions ranging from sexual attractiveness to household labor contributions.”

In the less happy marriages, the men said their wives were too demanding and critical of them. Among this age cohort, in general, women tend to “nag” their husbands about maintaining healthy behaviors and do more caretaking of them. Women have lower expectations of their husbands, and they also have a richer pool of social relationships that may compensate for an unsatisfactory mate.

Cultural Change in Nursing Homes: Toward Self-determination
An older friend who resides in a fancy assisted living facility recently told us that an aid once woke her up in the middle of the night because her chart indicated that she had not had her tongue cleaned during the tooth brushing the evening before. He insisted on cleaning her tongue before she was allowed to go back to sleep. In fact, she has little say in when she sleeps, when she rises, when she eats, and when she is bathed. One day a nurse’s aid entered her room and announced he was giving her a shower that day. She had nothing to say about this, despite her reluctance to undress before this man. Despite the charm and prestige of this setting, this nursing home places strong control over the residents. The complaints are many.

Fortunately, there is a new model of nursing homes now sweeping the country, one that shifts the emphasis from “care” to self-determined well-being. This movement (sometimes called “cultural change”) is designed to change the way nursing homes are organized and operated, moving from a rule based, regulated, controlled environment of care-giving to one that is based on creating the least restrictive setting for residents. The new nursing home guarantees that residents are free from physical restraints, have privacy, are accommodated in terms of medical, physical, psychological and social needs, can participate in resident and family groups, be treated with dignity, be able to exercise self-determination, and to communicate freely. In contrast to traditional nursing homes, today’s residents within the “cultural change” model are able to select their own schedules, such as when to sleep and get up, choose their own food, bathe when they wish, come and go freely within and outside the home, have diverse relationships and be able to entertain companions as they might in their own homes. In many places, residents are being asked to decide which services, activities, and spaces are most important to them, rather than have the design of the facility and the programs decided by the staff and leadership of the home.

Aging and Disability Resource Centers are adopting person-centered planning to help potential clients understand the options for service. The website Nursing Home Compare posts quality measures for every nursing home, and a Five Star System that disseminates summary measures.

From: Implications for Policy: The Nursing Home as Least Restrictive Setting by Christine E. Bishop and Robyn Stone, The Gerontologist, 2014, 54, S98-S103.

Retiring at 101? Heck No…
Murray Shusterman is not the typical Philadelphia lawyer. Yet, he is devoted to his trade. Shusterman is a lawyer who can’t stop working. At 101, he travels from his home to his office every day to do real estate and corporate law. For his 100th birthday, he did give up driving and his beloved game of golf. But he doesn’t feature retiring. His image of retirement is to go sit in a rocking chair, and he won’t have it.

Shusterman says that when he turned 100, people started asking him the secret to a good life. He said, “The meaning of life? Life is not a riddle to be solved. It’s an adventure to be embraced. Go forward. Try your best. Get involved in causes that matter.” He described his parents as “wonderful”. “They gave me a sense of morality and generosity, and I’ve always acted accordingly.” He did admit that he did all the “good things and all the bad things that a young fellow does.”

Besides raising a family of three sons, he became involved in charitable works, and later in life gave millions to Temple University, the school that gave him a scholarship in the 1930s. He taught law there for more than three decades, served on the university board of trustees, and has a hall in the law school named after him. He has also been active in Jewish organizations in Philadelphia. An organized man, he has planned his funeral and picked a coffin, so as to spare his sons the burden of doing so. His advice to the younger set: “Don’t take yourself too seriously.”

From: Lawyer retire? AT 101? Heck no by Jeff Gammage. Philadelphia Inquirer, July 20, 2014, A1,A4. Celebrating one’s 90th
More and more families are wondering how best to celebrate the 90th birthdays of beloved grandparents. The Family Bush, the Texas-New England bunch with two Presidents George, enjoyed the event for George senior by gathering at a church in Kennebunkport, Maine. The guest of honor arrived in a very special way, parachuting into the party. Retired member of the Army’s Golden Nights parachute team, Mike Elliott, jumped with Former President Bush riding tandem, into the Wild Blue Yonder. Fortunately, all were present to enjoy the birthday cake.

From: Making a Great Entrance into the 90’s by Robert F. Bukaty, USA Today, June 13, 2014, 7A. Memory Cafés: Gather, Share, Enjoy!
Begun in The Netherlands in 1997, memory cafés are warm, friendly places where people diagnosed with dementia and their families and friends can gather for activities and sharing. With the support of Rotary International, the idea spread to the UK and then to the U. S. Often there is an educational program featured in the Cafes, but for the most part they are more for camaraderie and fun, as well as cultural enrichment, and community engagement. Today there are over 100 cafés in the US. The cafés offer people opportunities for informal socializing, with coffee, tea and treats. Some are located in existing restaurants or coffee shops and others are in churches, libraries and museums. Volunteers and staff members help to support the activities of the cafés.

The cafés have a facilitator who helps to run the social gatherings. The facilitators mount rituals - such as greetings and partings - that help to organize the gathering,. At one café a facilitator plays his ukulele, as the group sings a greeting to each person by name. He also plays a song when the café time is over. The local newspaper publicizes the schedule of the memory cafés each week. In July, 2013, the Wisconsin café participants had their first outing. A bus picked up people at several locations, and together they visited a chocolate shop, ate lunch at a restaurant, and cruised the Fox River in Green Bay. A poet who also trains volunteers in leading poetry workshops was with the 50plus people who went on the trip. Later he created a poem about the day, which the participants learned to recite - in a call and response form - on the bus ride home. With a subsidy from a local grant, the trip cost each person $10.

For these founders, the most important thing for people diagnosed with dementia is to have a non-stigmatizing environment in which to relate socially.

From: Popular Memory Cafés in Wisconsin’s Fox Valley Battle Social Isolation by S. H. McFadden and A. Koll. Generations, Journal of the American Society on Aging, Spring, 2014, 68-71. Difficulties in Swallowing? Try Printed Food!
When we think of copy machines, we generally do not think of them as copiers of three dimensional objects. Recently, with the 3-D printer, it has become possible to do just this. Now, taking a step further, the 3-D printers are making food. The process begins by filling the ink tubes with pureed food, such as pasta or pork. A secret ingredient is added that solidifies the slurry enough to be squirted out of tubes and reconstituted as food. The product looks and smells much like the original, but with one amazing new property: Once the food is chewed, it literally melts in your mouth. The food is proving a life-saver for people who have difficulties swallowing, a condition that affects about 20% of people over 50. The food is being tested by German nursing home residents, who have been missing their weiner schnitzel and sauerkraut.

Senior Theatre (www.seniortheatre.com) is a website that features a wide range of resources for individuals or groups interested in performance possibilities for the elderly. There is growing field of 700+ Senior Theatre companies and the prominent role of ArtAge Publications, described in the article as "a mecca for all things related to theatre for seniors." ArtAge, founded in 1997, produces materials and workshops for Senior Theatre performers and directors worldwide in keeping with the company’s mission to help “older adults fulfill their theatrical dreams.” ArtAge has the world’s largest collection of over 400 plays, books, and materials for older performers. Contact: Bonnie Vorenberg, President at - bonniev@seniortheatre.com.

Retirement in the Mix: a blog by psychologist Janis Bohan, who shares her life and her views with her readers on a frequent basis. Her thoughts about aging are splendid reminders of how being old, as she likes to describe herself, is a blessing and a responsibility. She is eager to share and care for others and the Earth until she herself returns to “star dust”. http://retirementinthemix.blogspot.com

RainbowGray.com A website for LGBT folks 50+Chaplainsonhand.org This website allows one to connect with a chaplain who offers spiritual comfort and support to anyone going through difficult times, regardless of religious beliefs. The chaplains are drawn from Catholic, Protestant and Jewish faiths and all are board-certified by the Association of Professional Chaplains. The service was created for those facing illness, grief, and the burdens of being a caregiver. To call, 844-242-7524 (toll free)

Dennis M. Garvey, a gerontologist who has had a long career working with mature adults sent us a book, Sex, Drugs and Growing Old – A Boomer’s Guide to Aging, which he thought our readers might enjoy. It is a short, lively, informative, and enjoyable book – lighthearted and clear. Many basic facts about aging, with the opportunity for some self-evaluations, are included. $15. For more information, contact him at aginginsightspublishing@gmail.com

]]>http://www.taosinstitute.net/2014-mayjune2014 March/Aprilhttp://www.taosinstitute.net/2014-marchaprilWed, 04 Jun 2014 05:00:00 GMTContent DeveloperDownload the newsletter in PDF format: Issue_85_Positive_Aging_Newsletter_March-April_2014.pdf THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER March/April, 2014 The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net) “THE BEST IN…INSIGHTS IN AGING” Wall Street Journal Issue No 85 COMMENTARY: Memories as Resources RESEARCH: Crossword Puzzles Aren’t Just for Fun! What Does It Mean to be Old? IN THE NEWS: A 93 Year Old Writer Speaks of Memories and Loss Widows...]]>Download the newsletter in PDF format: Issue_85_Positive_Aging_Newsletter_March-April_2014.pdf THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER March/April, 2014 The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net) “THE BEST IN…INSIGHTS IN AGING” Wall Street Journal Issue No 85 COMMENTARY: Memories as Resources RESEARCH: Crossword Puzzles Aren’t Just for Fun! What Does It Mean to be Old? IN THE NEWS: A 93 Year Old Writer Speaks of Memories and Loss Widows...Download the newsletter in PDF format: Issue_85_Positive_Aging_Newsletter_March-April_2014.pdf

THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER
March/April, 2014

The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net)

Perhaps I am naïve. I have spent the vast share of my life thinking forward. Somehow looking backward seemed a waste of time. I focus mainly on the activity right in front of me, and on what comes after that, and after that, and on into the future. It’s always been, “what’s coming” and “what to do about it?” Unless it was needed for one of my projects, looking backward was a useless daydream. Recently, however, I found my situation where “looking forward” was useless. Mary and I were in Paraguay, and wanted to see the famous Iguazu Falls, a five-hour drive from where we were working. The van pulled up; Mary was placed in the front seat, and I in the back. I had hoped to read or work on my computer; so much to do. But the road was so bumpy, I found, that neither was possible. And the sound was so loud that conversation was also impossible. Soon the scenery became monotonous. For me, this was a condition bordering on hell!

I tried to doze, but the rumbling van would not allow for sleep. However, as I lay back with my eyes closed, I found myself slowly turning over incidents from the past in my mind. And when I began to recall an incident, I soon found myself reminiscing about an associated person, event or place. To my surprise, I slowly began to feel a sense of pleasure. I would say to myself, “That was a fun time”; “That was fascinating”; “He was terrific”; “She was fantastic”. With this, I began to focus on specific times and places – a sixth grade romance, senior prom, Paris in the 80’s, and so on. I greeted old friends, smiled at mishaps, revisited feelings of awe…the time began to move swiftly; I had discovered a treasure.

Perhaps you as readers have known this pleasure all along. But for me it was another important step in realizing the joys of being older. We carry with us enormous riches, and if we learn to sort wisely through our memories, they are available at any moment to give us pleasure, support, companionship, affirmation, and more. With Mary, I am going to go back and revisit those photo albums we have stored in our cupboard in the hall. They will help fill out the years that have been left as fallow fields. I now worry that memories have been lost because I never visited them. Perhaps I have let them go. I shall not wait for another bumpy ride to re-visit my treasure house.
- - Ken Gergen

From a summary review by Kathleen Smith
A new trial funded by the National Institutes of Health has found that the benefits of cognitive training for older adults can last as long as 10 years. The report, featured in the January issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, details how training aimed at boosting older adults' skill at memory, reasoning and speed of processing slowed their cognitive decline and helped participants maintain functioning in daily living tasks over a decade.

"It's like going to the gym 10 years ago and doing some strength training, and you still have good arm strength 10 years later," explains one of the study's co-authors, Sharon Tennstedt, PhD, vice president of the New England Research Institutes. "You are maybe not quite as strong as you were then, but there is still benefit."

The study is the largest of its kind, enrolling more than 2,800 participants ages 65 to 94 from a broad range of educational, socio-economic, and racial and ethnic groups. The researchers assigned volunteers either to receive 10 one-hour sessions of training over five to six weeks, or to a no-training control group.

At the 10-year follow-up, those with training in reasoning and speed of processing experienced less decline in those cognitive abilities compared with non-trained (control) participants. Participants in all three training groups reported significantly less difficulty performing daily living skills than did untrained participants.

The results imply that psychologists should encourage older adults to engage in activities that challenge their cognitive abilities. Consumers should be aware that few commercially available brain games have been tested adequately to support their claims of benefit. However, expected increase in consumer demand and market competition should result in more programs or games with proven impact, according to the study authors. In the meantime, they recommend older adults try any cognitively stimulating activity, such as solving crossword puzzles and playing cards.

"Maintaining cognitive functioning may become even more salient for the generation now moving into their 60s and 70s," says Sherry Willis, PhD, another co-author and a research professor at the University of Washington. "Baby boomers who are moving into old age are really becoming extremely aware that they may have to work longer. And this study speaks to the plasticity of cognitive functioning — that older adults can improve from cognitive training and they can maintain the effects."

AARP did a survey on aging, in which 1,800 Americans were asked what getting older has been like for them so far. Here are some of their major findings:
Question “How Old is Old?”

85% of the respondents, ages from 40-90, said they were “not old”. In general, regardless of age, “old” was always older than they were. When asked how others would describe them, based on their age, 45% said “younger” and another 25% said, “Active”, “healthy” and “in the prime of life.”

Interestingly, in general, the older people got, the more they agreed with these statements: “Problems with my physical health do not hold me back from doing what I want,” and “Growing older has been easier than I thought”, and “I have more energy now than I expected for my age.” For example, about 70% of people in their 60’s and 70’s said that physical health did not hold them back.

Respondents were asked whether they agreed with the statement “There are many pleasant things about growing older.” African Americans were the most likely to answer yes to this (79%) as well as to the following: ”I believe my life has made a difference.” Least likely to agree with both statements were the Asian Americans at 63%, and they were most likely (24%) to agree, “Old age is a time of loneliness”
In answer to the comment, “I know I’ll enjoy sex no matter how old I am” men were more likely than women to say yes (71% vs. 50%).

The famous baseball writer Roger Angell talks about loss, and the memories he has of the countless people, who inhabited his world, and then died. Despite their absence, “gestures and glances and tones of voice of theirs… reappear unexpectedly, along with accompanying touches of sweetness or irritation.” His view, “The surprise, for me, is that the accruing weight of these departures doesn’t bury us, and that even the pain of an almost unbearable loss gives way quite quickly to something more distant but still stubbornly gleaming.” Thinking of the parade of the dead, he wonders, “Why do they sustain me so, cheer me up, remind me of life? I don’t understand this: Why am I not endlessly grieving?”

The most important insight for Angell is how significant is “our unceasing need for deep attachment and intimate love.” Most people who are younger don’t want to know about this “raunchy secret.” “But I believe that everyone in the world wants to be with someone else tonight, together in the dark.” He ends by suggesting that those who have lost a love, such as he, “know about the emptiness of loss, and are still cruising along here feeling lucky and not yet entirely alone.”

From: This Old Man: Life in the Nineties by Roger Angell, New Yorker, Feb. 17 & 24, 2014, 60-65Widows in Support

It is now estimated that 75% of all women will be widowed at least once. The “W” Connection refers to a growing number of groups being formed that bring widows together for colleagueship, advice, and mutual support. The Connection is not designed as a spiritual or therapeutic encounter, but it does serve as a place for helping women survive emotionally and economically challenging times. The first “W” Connection group began in New York in 2010, and from there has been spreading across the country. The Philadelphia group meets once a month. Each session has a topic either personal or practical. Women counsel each other on ways of adapting to this new and difficult period of life. As one member said, “I wish I had this group when I was widowed. I wish they would have told me I would smile again. That I could love again.” Another challenged the notion that widowhood was hardest to bear in the first year. “You’re numb the first year. It’s the second year that’s the worst because the shock wears off.”

A new key to a good life in aging is suggested by researchers in Colombia: Reading and discussing erotic literature! At a recent congress of the Pan American Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics, researchers reported on their studies on the cognitive effects of reading and discussing erotic literature. The books were not pornographic, but had strong erotic passages and themes. Among the books were Like Water For Chocolate by Laura Esquivel (Como Agua, Para Chocolate), Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D. H. Lawrence, (El Amante de Lady Chatterley), and 20 Love Poems and one of Despair by Pablo Neruda (Veinte Poemas de Amor Y Una Cancion Desesperada). Adults over 65 gathered every 15 days in a university course to discuss the books they were reading from the list of suggested books. The vast majority of the readers were women. Before the year long meetings, the women were evaluated on cognitive skills - including attention, memory, and narrative skills. At the end of the study, these diverse capacities had become stronger than before. The literature encouraged the group to share their own stories of romance, to express interest in others’ views and experiences, and to create an uplifting and light hearted atmosphere. Fewer participants expressed depressive thoughts at the end of the course. The researchers suggested that reading the erotic literature had a special power to enliven the participants, and that other forms of literature would not have the same impact on abilities and moods.

Agewise: Fighting the New Ageism in America by Margaret Morganroth Gullette. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2011.From an essay by Ruth Ray Karpen
In her latest book, Agewise, a collection of essays that explores cultural myths and prejudices surrounding aging and old age, Margaret Gullette illustrates the life-changing nature of stories and storytelling. In the introduction, Gullette sets up her premise that the aging process itself is a narrative affected by physiology, life experiences, and social influences. … For Gullette, ageism strikes at the very core of what it means to be human. She wonders, in frustration, “Why isn’t this unprecedented damage to the life course the biggest story of our time?” (p. 4).

In Part II, Gullette provides a feminist critique of “common wisdom” about women’s aging bodies circulated by mainstream media. In her chapter on “Hormone Nostalgia,” she argues that menopause never should have been a story in the first place because it is unremarkable in the lives of 90% of women. Like most age-related experiences, menopause is a bio-cultural phenomenon, but the media, following traditional medicine, treats it primarily as a biological phenomenon. For Gullette, “the universal menopause is a false decline narrative” (p. 88).

In the final chapter of this section, Gullette invites us to consider “Sexuality Across the Life Course” by re- imagining the meaning of “progress” in the stories we tell about sexual aging. Rather than setting up negative comparisons between later life sexuality and the hormone-fueled performances of youth, we would do better to consider sex within a life-course perspective that involves a range of experiences. Particularly for women, the “starter sex” of youth is often very bad, compared to sex in later life, which is free of the fear of unwanted pregnancy and often accompanied by greater self-esteem and knowledge of one’s own desires and responses. Gullette cautions that universal sexuality, like universal menopause, becomes a “false decline narrative” in the hands of a pharmaceutically driven media.

In section 3, Gullette offers hope for anti-ageism….The key is to create a life narrative that sustains rather than drains your motivation to keep moving forward toward an unknown future. In the final chapters, Gullette demonstrates how to tell individual life stories in ways that affirm aging, even at the end of life when faced with serious illness, loss, and dependency. She looks to examples from her own life, literature, and memoir. Gullette uses the novel, Emma, by Jane Austen to reflect on a change in regards to age and memory. There was a time, before the mind had been “medicalized,” when memory loss was not considered a failure in all mental faculties and certainly not in character or morality. Now that the mind has been reduced to brain, which for older adults has been reduced to memory, we have become a culture of “hypercognitive and frightened people” (p. 179). With greater understanding and compassion, we can and must change this culture. Gullette reminds us that “memory is only one aspect of mind—and not necessarily the most important aspect of selfhood” (200). Taken together, all the chapters in the book illustrate the various ways that decline can be countered at the cultural and individual levels— ideologically, legally, politically, ethnically, and in particular, “imaginatively, through the illuminations of our best and longest-lasting stories” (p. 223).

Every so often we get a note from Georgie Bright Kunkel, describing her latest adventures . Here is the latest version, which she sent along with a photo at the comedy club.

Since I wrote last I have had quite a 93rd year of life. I continue to go on the comedy stage here in Seattle and I appear on the stage at poetry reading night each month. I have been singing in my church choir and have been interviewed by the local CBS station, KOMO, for a spot on the evening news because I am the oldest standup comic probably in the world perhaps.

Life is good.

Cheers, Georgie Bright Kunkel

* The email address given with the review of my book in the last Positive Aging newsletter is incorrect; it has an "a" after gmail and it should just be - tompinkson@gmail.com. Also, I have two web sites and the nierica one is not the best one for readers interested in my fruitful aging work. Better they should go to drtompinkson.com

It’s often been said that life copies art, but I recently found myself asking what if we looked at life itself as an art form? More to the point, what could we learn or appreciate if we could see aging as an art? I especially liked this idea, as it seemed a great alternative to the common metaphor of “aging as over the hill!” But a lot depends on what form of art you select, and where it is applied. So, I asked, what if I just looked at each day as a blank canvas and myself as the artist. How could I paint the day so that it could be interesting or beautiful? This was a pleasant thought over the morning’s coffee, but I must confess that as the day started rolling, the image went on holiday.

That seemed only fair, because it was also a holiday for me, and a beautiful day at that. So, I invited Mary to join me for an afternoon of golf. The afternoon began poorly. Although guaranteed a clear start, we were placed behind two more parties at the first hole. And while waiting impatiently, another party arrived behind us. Ugh! This meant that our every swing would be observed by the folks behind us. This might be ok if you were a seasoned golfer, assured of making impressive shots. But we are rank amateurs, and being watched is nerve wracking. Thus, when it finally came time for my first shot, I promptly drove the ball into the side of a nearby house! Then the tedium set in, as the play was interminably slow, and the sun had now become quite hot. By the third hole, I was in very poor spirits, and poor company for Mary. Slowly we were becoming alienated. I slunk into silence, depressed at the thought of the afternoon now spread before us. But then, in a flash, the blank canvas metaphor returned. “If this is your painting of the day,” I said to myself, “you are one lousy artist!” With this, I turned to Mary and proposed that we create the rest of the afternoon in a different way. We laughed, the tension was broken, and we just relaxed and enjoyed the beautiful scene. (Interestingly, our play improved as well).

In retrospect, my feeling is that the world may come to us in many forms, but we have control of the colors. And it is in the painting that we can create worlds worth waking up for.
Ken Gergen

It is common as we grow older to fail to recall a name or a place. Humorously we call these “senior moments,” as if to apologize for a deficit. But are such failures actually an indication of a weakening brain? Not according to Dr. Michael Ramscar from Tubingen University in Germany, a researcher long involved in studies on this topic. As he points out, “The human brain works slower in old age but only because we have stored more information over time. The brains of older people do not get weak. On the contrary, they simply know more.”
Speaking with the Telegraph, the scientist added: “Imagine someone who knows two people’s birthdays and can recall them almost perfectly. Would you really want to say that person has a better memory than a person who knows the birthdays of 2000 people, but can ‘only’ match the right person to the right birthday nine times out of ten?” As research journals often report, many tests of cognitive skills favor the young. But do they really? This depends on why one succeeds or fails. For example, in one particular test, called 'paired associated learning', people are asked to remember pairs of random objects – like shoes and ham, trees and fish. The scientists say this test is more difficult for older people because they have learned that these two objects never go together and so struggle to remember them as a couple. Eggs and thumb tacks do not go together as easily as ham and eggs might. However, Prof. Harald Baayen, who heads a group conducting the research proposes: “The fact that older adults find nonsense pairs harder to learn than young adults simply demonstrates older adults’ much better understanding of language.

They have to make more of an effort to learn unrelated word pairs because, unlike the youngsters, they know a lot about which words don’t belong together.”

We have often reported on the value of social support in this Newsletter, and the following research lends further support to the case. The focus here was on the effects of disability on depression. Many of us may be disabled over time; the important question is whether we can rebound. In this research on 800 Swedish elders (average age 86) disability was not uncommon. For some, disabilities came on suddenly, as in a stroke, while others were slowly acquired, such as crippling arthritis. And, in general, as a disability struck or was recognized, symptoms of depression began to set in. Further, it was found that following a period of adjustment, the depressive symptoms, generally, subsided. People do tend to adjust.

However, the researchers also had the respondents rate their social support networks. Most interesting, respondents who claimed to have a good social support network showed great resilience. Not only did their depressive symptoms disappear, but for many, they fell below what they reported prior to the onset of the disability! At the same time, if respondents reported a poor level of social support, the depressive symptoms were more severe and long lasting. Women who were very old, and claimed to be low in social support were most likely to be depressed following the onset of a disability.

What is important to recognize is that one may overcome the negative reaction to disability, despite the inconveniences and limitations. People of all ages are able to adjust to conditions that might seem utterly depressing to someone who is a bystander. One must be careful to not assume a person with a disability must be depressed. And too, if you are the bystander, your caring support may erase any remaining depression.

From: Changes in Depressive Symptoms in the Context of Disablement Processes: Role of Demographic Characteristics, Cognitive Function, Health, and Social Support by Elizabeth B. Fauth, Denis Gerstorf, Nilam Ram & Bo Malmberg. The Journal of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 2012, 67, 167-177.

Exercise more, even 7 minutes a day might be enough. Research with three groups of patients with a diagnosis of depression indicated that of the three, the group that exercised, without taking any anti-depressants, were much less likely to relapse after 6 months.

Sleep More. Having enough sleep makes us less susceptible to feeling emotions such as anger or fear. We feel happier.

Shorter your commute. Nothing like a long commute to drag you down during your work week.

Spend time with friends and family. The most important key to happiness in life, according to various research studies, is having good relationships with family and friends. Money doesn’t appear to buy happiness, once a certain point is reached.

Go Outdoors. Happiness is maximized at 13.9 C. That’s 57 F.

The study was done in England. Might be higher in Arizona.

Help others, 100 hours a year is the magic number.

Practice smiling. A fake smile doesn’t do it. Try to find something to smile about. A fake smile can lead to a real one, however, so don’t despair.

Plan a trip. You don’t necessarily have to take it. The best part of a vacation seems to be during the planning of it.

Practice gratitude. Keep a journal on gratitude, share your good times with friends or family. Give thanks to others.

Finally, just getting older tends to make people feel happier. One hypothesis is that older people have learned how to regulate their moods better than younger ones. They do the things that maximize their happiness. Whatever floats their boat!

Nursing homes are transforming, and residents are overjoyed. Instead of being medically-oriented facilities or storage houses for the very old, they are becoming resident-oriented dwellings, designed to make people feel at home. The new emphasis is on changing the culture of what defines a nursing home. The new approach stresses giving choices to residents in terms of how they live, how they decorate their living spaces, when and what they eat, how long they sleep, and how they spend their time. People who live in nursing homes are expressing their opinions about their facilities, and they are feeling much more satisfied than those who live in traditional facilities.

The staff is happier as well, and there is less turn-over. Because the residents are happier, they require fewer medicines and restraints. They are also more likely to remain fitter, stronger, and more energetic.

Overall the U.S. has over 16,000 nursing homes. A typical person’s stay is 836 days. Medicaid pays close to $78,000 a year per person, and private-pay customers often pay more. The hope is that bringing about this cultural change will reduce costs, despite the possibility that residents will live longer. The basic theme of this cultural change is about building relationships and enhancing the power of residents and staff. Peggy Sinnott, a director of health services for the Kendal organization, has noted, “I can tell as soon as I walk into a nursing home [what kind it is.] If there are visiting hours, it’s not culture change. If you can’t have a birthday party for your mother, there’s no… change.” Change is also experienced in terms of the death of a resident. Previously it was an event that was unmarked and unceremonious. Now, residents learn about the death and have the opportunity to remember and grieve the person. One nursing home has a remembrance table with portraits of those who have died. The relationship of the nursing staff with the residents makes them more vulnerable to the losses, but also gives them a deeper appreciation of their roles as caregivers and friends to the residents.

The new wave nursing homes are increasingly available, and easier to spot. It’s the only way to go!

Bernice Gordon may not be a household world in your house, but in the world of crossword puzzle makers, she is the Queen. Ms. Gordon has been creating puzzles for major publications for over sixty years. Her first puzzle was printed by the New York Times in 1952. January 12, she celebrated her 100th birthday, with friends and family. Puzzle making began when she was a young homemaker and mother, and it has been a fascinating part of her life every since. Gordon married and had two sons, but was twice widowed. Doing crossword puzzles has kept her focused and content, despite the usual pains of a long life.

Gordon lives in an apartment on a fashionable square in Philadelphia, where she enjoys sociable dining with old friends. She also teaches a class in puzzle making in her community. Out in public, she uses a wheelchair, but gets around with a walker at home. She has had her troubles, physically, with two hip replacements, and an arthritic knee. She was operated on for a brain tumor when she was 90, but no longer has brain scans because “its too late for another operation. Enough already” she says.

Her love of crossword creating has been constant, although constructing a new one daily is a daunting task. Another of Gordon’s great loves is Rafael Nadal, the tennis star from Spain; she watches every match she can “live”, no matter what time, day or night.

According to Dr. Yaakov Stern, a neuropsychologist at Columbia University, recent research suggests that such intense cognitive activity not only maintains brain functioning, but helps to grow new neurons, making the brain even more powerful. And that is good news for all of us, especially those of us who enjoy crossword puzzles.

Marc Freedman, Founder and CEO, Encore.org, writes:
Now, in her compelling book, Your Life Calling: Reimagining the Rest of Your Life, Jane [Pauley] provides a vision for purpose and contribution in the second half of life we can all aspire to. Her book – which has already become a New York Times bestseller— makes the case that our generation can change the world for the better, and illustrates that prospect through a series of beautifully told stories, including those of Encore.org Purpose Prize winners Jenny Bowen and Barbara Chandler Allen.

Dennis M. Garvey, a gerontologist who has had a long career working with mature adults sent us a book, Sex, Drugs and Growing Old – A Boomer’s Guide to Aging, which he thought our readers might enjoy. Many basic facts about aging, with the opportunity for some self-evaluations, are included. It is written in a light-hearted, engaging, and clear manner. $15. For more information, contact him at aginginsightspublishing@gmail.com

There has been lots of encouraging progress in our grassroots efforts to make assistive listening for Americans with hearing loss more conveniently and effectively available. FYI, here are a few recent synopses of progress:

Tom Pinkson, author of Fruitful Aging: Find the Gold in the Golden Years, writes:

The email address given with the review of my book in the last Positive Aging newsletter is incorrect; it has an "a" after gmail and it should just be - tompinkson@gmail.com. Also, I have two web sites and the www.nierica.com is not the best one for readers interested in my fruitful aging work. Better they should go to drtompinkson.com

May 8-10, 2014:AARP Presents Life@50+, Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, starring a conversation between First Lady Laura Bush and her daughter Barbara, and music from the Moody Blues. $25 for AARP members; $35 for non-members, including a 1 year membership. Register at www.aarp.org/atmbos or 1-800-650-6839.

Questions & Feedback: If you have any questions, or material you'd like to share with other newsletter readers, please e-mail Mary Gergen at gv4@psu.edu - Past issues Past issues of the newsletter, including our translated issues in Spanish, German, French, Danish, and Chinese are archived at: www.positiveaging.net

How to subscribe, unsubscribe or change your e-mail address:
We hope that you enjoy The Positive Aging Newsletter.

It is our tradition to periodically review again the central mission of this newsletter, thus clarifying as well what you may anticipate and how you may participate as readers. Since its inception ten years ago, the readership of the newsletter has expanded at a rapid rate - now reaching thousands of subscribers and translated into five languages. Subscribers include gerontologists, health related researchers, therapeutic practitioners, service providers for the elderly, and interested laypersons. Many new readers of the newsletter may be especially curious about the orientation guiding the selection of content.

Our primary aim is to bring to light resources - from research, professional practice, and daily life - that contribute to an appreciation of the aging process. Challenging the longstanding view of aging as decline, we strive to create a vision of life in which aging is an unprecedented period of human enrichment. Such a revolution vitally depends on the communities of research and professional practices that focus on adult populations, especially people over 50. It is within these communities that new ideas, insights, factual support, and practices of growth enhancement can congenially emerge. By focusing on the developmental aspects of aging, and the availability of relevant resources, skills, and resiliencies, research not only brings useful insights into the realm of practice, but creates hope and empowers action among older people. By moving beyond practices of repair and prevention, to emphasize growth-enhancing activities, practitioners also contribute to the societal reconstruction of aging.

Reader contributions to the Newsletter are most welcome. If you have writings or practices that you feel would be especially interesting to subscribers of the Newsletter, you are invited to share them in future issues. We also review selected books and films, and carry announcements of relevant conferences and workshops. Please send your suggestions to Mary Gergen at gv4@psu.edu

To reintroduce ourselves, Kenneth Gergen is a Senior Research Professor at Swarthmore College, and Mary is a Professor Emerita at Penn State University, Brandywine . Ken and Mary both serve on the Executive Board of the Taos Institute, a non-profit organization working at the intersection of social constructionist theory and societal practice. Each has a long history of engagement with gerontological inquiry and therapeutic practice.

Throughout the world most grandparents share in the care for their grandchildren. For some, it may be casual babysitting from time to time, and for others, it may be a fulltime, live-in commitment. Although caretaking is often regarded as a negative or debilitating occupation in the U. S., it is not clear, either in Western countries or in other areas of the world, what effects caregiving has on grandparents.

This study focused on grandparents aged 50 and above who had various commitments to caring for grandchildren. They were part of a massive 10-year long study of aging in Taiwan. The result are illuminating.
Compared to non-care givers, caregiving grandparents seemed to be enhanced by their service to their grandchildren. Overall, these grandparents rated themselves as in better health, had higher life satisfactions and less depression. The longer one was caretaking, the higher the life satisfactions. Another plus for the caretakers was that they seemed to have greater physical mobility over time than those who were not chasing after kids on a frequent basis.

In research reported from other countries, similar findings have been reported. In Chile, for example, helping grandchildren has been found to be beneficial for the mental health of grandparents. In the U.S. one study indicated that grandmothers who care for their grandkids rated themselves as having better health than those who did not. Another study by Hughes and colleagues (2007) also found more physical mobility among grandmothers who babysat 200-500 hours a year than those whose sitting was less frequent or non-existent. Without anyone considering it exercise, the kids are keeping grandma on her toes, all to her benefit in the long run.

Reference: Hughes, M.E., Waite, L. J., LaPierre, T. A., & Luo, Y (2007). All in the family: The impact of caring for grandchildren on grandparents’ health. The Journals of Gerontology, Series B. Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 62, S108-S119.

Enjoying Life after 100
Although living to 100 is a difficult accomplishment, there is much to be learned from those who do. And, as gerontologists inform us, with physical activity, productive lifestyles and social relations our chances improve greatly. In fact, it is estimated that over 53,000 people in the U. S. alone have reached the 100 mark. So, what can we learn from the current centenarians?

A research study in Heidelberg, Germany has found that a positive outlook on life characterizes most of this group. To be sure, many feel frustrated with health-related issues, but mostly these limits do not make them depressed. Interestingly, these findings parallel earlier research we have reported in this Newsletter, indicating that a positive outlook correlates highly with longevity.

Men only make up 17% of the centenarians, but they tend to be in better physical health, and claim to feel happier than women do. They seem to enjoy the fact that they have beaten out the other guys. Women are more likely to report that their health is not great, but they live longer, and they also test better for cognitive capacities. They may be smarter, but not happier than men.

In looking back on life’s most significant events, marriage stands out for the Americans. For Japanese, historical events, such as an earthquake, World War II, or some other tragedy is number 1. Interestingly, mentioning marriage as of the highest importance, is positively associated with good mental health. Such people have lower rates of depression and neuroticism, and tend to be more extroverted.

Levels of Vitamin D are high in centenarians and correlate strongly with good cognitive health. Subjects 95 to 103 in an American study on genetics found that centenarians had the Vitamin D levels of 70 year olds. People with low levels of Vitamin D tended to have a much greater tendency to develop cognitive impairments. So viva sunlight and salmon.

In the Heidelberg group, 87 centenarians were asked about their thoughts about dying. They enjoyed the chance to talk about this, as often they feel prohibited from doing so by their families. About 25% said they sometimes or often longed for death. Only one person said she feared it. Those who wanted to die gave as reasons loneliness, a lack of a confidante, and a negative view of the future, colored by their social isolation. Pain was mentioned, but physical health was not a predominant cause. Those who contemplated death serenely without longing for it talked about goals for the future, such as seeing a grandson graduate from college or reaching 105.

From: The Science of Aging: Enjoying Life After 100 by Barbara Peters Smith, Herald-Tribune, November 24, 2013. On line.

Online Communities: Benefitting from the Internet
Among the fastest growing websites on the internet are those dedicated to older adults. This research explored the nature of the site users, who they are, and what benefits they receive from participating in these online communities. The research involved a survey of 218 adults who participate in 16 English language-based online communities. The survey asked people about their usage – membership histories, frequency and length of visits, postings, and visits to other sites. They were also asked if anything constrained their visiting behaviors. They were also asked how interested they were in 13 issues, thought to be of high priority among older adults. Analysis of the data indicted that participants in these communities can be divided into three groups: The first are the Information Swappers, who tend to use the internet to solve daily life problems, such as rates on car insurance and good vacation locations. Participants in the second group Aging-Oriented. They are the oldest people in the sample, and are primarily concerned with issues of health and well-being. Then there are the Socializers, who primarily use the online community to chat with people, enjoy some mental stimulation, and engage in “self expression.” The benefit of “companionship” was important to the socializers and the aging-oriented, and “joyfulness” characterized the socializers and the information swappers.

In general the participants in the study tended to be relatively well-off, healthy, well educated and young-old. The respondents also found the internet a very congenial place to go on a daily basis. They find ways of satisfying their particular psychosocial needs. These communities often help people compensate for constraints and limitations that daily life may place on them. The researchers suggest that finding ways of helping older, less educated seniors become involved in internet communities would be beneficial to their lives as well.

From: Probing the audience of seniors’ online communities by Galit Nimrod. Journal of Gerontology, Series B. Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 2013, 68,773-782.

For many people the prospects of greeting someone who has lost a significant other is daunting. It’s difficult to know what to say, and sometimes the easiest choice seems to be to avoid the grieving person or say nothing at all. Advice from a hospice bereavement counselor, Marty Tousley, cautions that avoiding the person is “the worst thing we can do.” Rather, there are simple, sincere ways of relating to someone who has lost a dear one. She recommends:

Encourage the person to share their experience. Avoid rushing them, but listen to the entire story.

Realize that you cannot erase the sorrow. Focus on their story, not your own, even if it is similar in many respects.

Let the other person express their emotions. Don’t be surprised by outbursts of crying, and let it happen. Touch and offer a hug, if that seems appropriate.

Schedule regular contact with the person. If you know of especially significant times, such as the anniversary of a wedding or birthday, get in touch on those days.

Invite the person to socialize as you normally did. Let there be an odd number at the table. Don’t exclude people who no longer have a partner. Alcohol may spur sadness, so consider that in your planning. Do something active and fun, if possible.

Be present with the other. Sometimes silence is golden. Sitting together outside, enjoying the beauty of nature is healing.

Grieving is not a progressive process, despite the common belief that one should “get over it” in six months to a year.

Grieving is more a wave process, in which sorrowful feelings can come and go, often for the rest of one’s life. One’s capacity to grieve is a sign of love and relatedness as well as a negative experience.

From: Life After Loss by C. J. Hutchinson, Amtrak Arrive, Sept.-Oct., 2013, 56-59.Retirement: A Time for Sensitive Negotiation
Retirement may look good in many ways. But it is also a period of difficult decision making. There are so many ambiguities, the questions are new, and the outcomes very important. For couples there is also a lot of room for disagreement. One study by Fidelity Mutual found that when asked about retirement, 1/3 of the couples surveyed either did not agree about their future plans, or didn’t know what they wanted to do. In addition over 60% could not agree when a good time to retire was, or when they might want to do so. Even in long-term relationships, disagreements can be unsettling. As Dorian Mintzer, a Boston-based therapist and certified life coach, puts it, “You can assume you know what the other wants, but when you're up against the clock and you're really thinking about retirement, letting go and making changes is hard. Catherine Frank, executive director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, also works with couples moving toward retirement. The first step in the process is simple enough: having couples sit down and start a conversation about their separate and shared ideas for the transition. The difficult part is When couples realize there are contradictory opinions and surprising goals, they must consider adjustments in their plans to keep their relationship in sync. "If you don't negotiate some of these changes together, I think you're in for some bumpy times ahead," Frank says. "Initiating the conversation and seeing how close you are or how far apart you are is really important." Non-confrontational conversation techniques are helpful for future retirees who hit a stumbling block in the planning process. "These conversations actually can bring more intimacy to a relationship," Mintzer says. "The more you understand what's important to the other — even if you agree to disagree — the more …connection there can be between the two people."

While financial and dwelling location are obvious talking points for couples facing retirement, the small, day-to-day matters are often overlooked. "Without negotiating some of those small, practical things, people can get on one another's nerves," Frank says. "When we're taken up with all of the responsibilities that come for most of us in midlife, what we don't do is stop and say, 'What is our marriage going to look like? What's it going to be like when we have this major change in our lives, and we have new opportunities, but also new challenges?'" Sometimes people get stuck in their positions: "'It's my way or your way,' win vs. lose," Mintzer says. "What I have found really helpful in my work with people is helping them identify that, and opening up the space for the 'we' of the relationship, so people can really think about what would be a win-win."

From: Where? When? Couples facing retirement need to talk.
Jennifer Devorin, USA Today, November 13, 2013Myths About Exercising After 70
After the excesses of the holidays, people often look forward to doing some fitness exercises. Before you get to the gym, consider what AARP The Magazine suggests are “Myths” about Fitness.

Stretching is very important as one ages. The reverse may be the case. A review of studies in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise found that stretching a muscle for 60 seconds or more causes a decline in the performance of that muscle. After stretching, that muscle tends to contract and tighten.

The best way to burn fat is to work out longer. It isn’t about time, but about intensity. Jogging is more effective than walking. High intensity activity boosts your metabolism.

Cardio matters more than weight training after 70. The reverse may be true. As one ages, muscle mass declines. Weight training helps stave off that loss and helps you stay stronger.

Doing crunches will get rid of belly fat. Spot exercise doesn’t work, according to James Hagberg, a Professor of kinesiology at the University of Maryland. Diet and exercise both help reduce fat.

You shouldn’t exercise if you’re sick. If your symptoms are above the neck, a workout is fine. Below the neck, rest. Also rest if you have a fever.

Tom Pinkson sent us a copy of his latest book, Fruitful Aging: Find the Gold in the Golden Years. It is a beautiful book, filled with stories of how people have entered into the “Golden years” and emerged transformed. His own story of being in intense back pain and how he managed to discover the ways to dissolve it are inspirational for any and all of us who suffer from physical trauma and disease. The path that Dr. Pinkson came upon involves a form of healing that is spiritual in nature. In the book he describes the exercises and activities that have helped him and many others to reach profound and delightful means for being in the world with grace. The book is also filled with quotations from authorities as varied as the Book of Psalms, Nietzsche, Jung, Zen Buddhism, George Bernard Shaw, and the Huichol Native Americans of Mexico. The wisdom of many scientists and therapists is included as well. The orientation of the book is toward developing the qualities of personhood that will make the last half of life highly fulfilling through seeking one’s full potential. “This book is an invitation to see what these ideas spark in you using your gift of longevity and its challenges as a vehicle towards the most fruitful blossoming of your selfhood, your creative expression, your wisdom lessons, and your love in a world that so desperately needs more love.” (pg. xxxiii). Whether you follow the details of his recommended activities or not, the book is inspiring in its insistence that, if “played right” the best is yet to come.

May 8-10, 2014: AARP Presents Life@50+, Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, starring a conversation between First Lady Laura Bush and her daughter Barbara, and music from the Moody Blues. $25 for AARP members; $35 for non-members, including a 1 year membership. Register at www.aarp.org/atmbos or 1-800-650-6839.

A close friend recently complained to me about eating Sunday dinner at her mother-in-law’s home. The mother-in-law was in her mid-80s, and as my friend described these Sunday visits, the dishes were not entirely clean, there were moldy foods in the refrigerator, the carpets smelled of cat urine, the furniture was dusty, and the furnishings were depressingly dingy and in disrepair. I must admit, this rang a bell for me. Ken and I have lived in our home for over 30 years. Our surroundings give us tranquility and pleasure. Each stick of furniture, each picture, and every decorative item is safe in its usual place, and a constant contributor to meaningful memories. There is history here, and a sense of place in the world. Meanwhile each piece is gathering dust, disintegrating and absorbing the knocks of many years of use.

I thus decided to play a mental game with myself. I imagined myself as my daughter-in-law, walking through our house. With her eyes I began to see how the refrigerator really does need a thorough cleaning. The living room chair needs repair, as do three dining room chairs. The hall carpet is worn; there is dust on the picture frames, a cobweb in the hall corner, the front door is grimy, and so on. What is it like for family and friends to visit? The result is of this game is that I enlisted Ken’s services in doing some major upgrading. And these efforts have been revealing. We have come to re-appreciate the furnishings, renewed memories, see paintings with fresh eyes, and spot the need for new appliances. We are energized!

In my view there is an important message here. As we grow older our surrounds can increasingly provide nurturing and enriching support – safety, tranquility, and meaning. Yet, these joys must also be balanced with a significant investment in renewal. The renewal of the surrounds is vitalizing and extends our consciousness both into the past and into the future. And perhaps family and friends will be happier too!

One of the consequences of being hopeful is having a greater sense that life is meaningful. Other psychologists have found that hope is a strong predictor of other positive emotions. Hope and happiness tend to go hand in hand. Researcher Randolph Arnau and his colleagues looked at hope’s connection to depression. Surveying 500 college students, they found those who expressed higher hope at the beginning of the study had lower measures of depression and anxiety one and two months later. In another study more hopeful students also went on to greater academic success. In the workplace, hope seems to have a positive relationship with productivity. Shane Lopez and colleagues analyzed 45 studies in which workers across a variety of industries were evaluated. They concluded that hope accounts for 14% of workplace productivity. “A hopeful person does one day a week more work than a less hopeful person in a seven-day workweek.” Steven Stern, MD, at the University of Texas studied hope and mortality in a sample of older Mexican- and European-Americans. Of the nearly 800 people aged 64-79 studied between 1992-1996, 29% of those classified as hopeless had died by 1999, compared with 11% of the hopeful people. Hope may be a key component to sustaining life.

Dr. Jon Allen of the Menninger Clinic believes that much of our capacity to hope comes from our social relationships. With his patients, the hope they express seems to be an outgrowth of positive social support from others. Support for this idea also comes from studies of people who are more sociable or extraverted. They also tend to have more hope than others. There also steps one can take to increase hope. Getting a good laugh is one. In one study, people who watched a funny video expressed more hopefulness afterwards. Another step is to do something that realizes one’s hopes, such as taking a course, or quitting a dead end job. Having a contingency plan in case Step One doesn’t work out is also a strategy for remaining hopeful. If one thing doesn’t work out, then plan B may work. Sometimes “re-goaling is necessary;” if one goal doesn’t work out, switch to another goal.

To learn more about nurturing hope in life, check out www.hopemonger.com a site from Shane Lopez.

Aging and Self-Actualization
Abraham Maslow, a famous psychologist of last century, offered interesting ideas on human motivation. Among the most important, he created a ladder of human motives, which went from the most basic (need for food, shelter, safety) to the most advanced: self-actualization. Self-actualization involved the desire to live on the basis of one’s deepest values. In order to reach this level, one had to find ways to achieve satisfactions of more basic drives and needs. Most relevant for the process of aging, they also had to have experience in many aspects of life. Thus, one might conclude, age should lead to greater actualization of one’s values.

A recent study explored this idea. Two groups were analyzed, a young group, aged 18-35 and an older group, over 36. For readers of this newsletter, the cut-off of 36 may seem a bit young, but the researchers believed that people who are in their mid-thirties had begun to seek for higher goals to live by. Other research had also discovered this period as one where higher motives became more dominant. The 240 men and women from all walks of life, and many ethnic groups, were given 12 scales the researchers believed to be indicators of self-actualization. These scales measured such things as value commitment, affirmation of self, ability to transcend dichotomies, ability to develop intimate relationships, freedom to be spontaneous, awareness of one’s feelings, and acceptance of others. As the results showed, the older group scored higher on all these measures than the younger ones.

Other research, using much older populations, found that motives such as altruism, family commitment, and honor were more subscribed to by older people than younger ones. Workers who are older also have greater abilities to lead, work in teams, to think flexibly, and to demonstrate a mature outlook on stressful situations. Interestingly, a grandparent who tends to be self-actualized is very valuable to grandchildren. Grandchildren with a close relationship to at least one grandparent are less ageist, sexist, and fearful. The children are also connected deeply to their families and are highly socialized. They are more self-reliant and cope better in social and cognitive contexts. Among world leaders who are classified as self-actualized are Michael Gorbachev, Vaclav Havel, and Nelson Mandela.

Diana Nyad, 64, is a world record long-distance swimmer. She had attempted four times to swim without a shark cage from Havana to Key West, Florida. Now, on the fifth try, she succeeded. Swimming for 53 hours, she is the first person confirmed to have accomplished this feat. Nyad gained national attention in 1975 when she swam around Manhattan (28 miles) and in 1979 when she swam from North Bimini, The Bahamas, to Juno Beach, Florida (102 miles). This fall, she swam for 48 hours in a specially constructed pool in the middle of New York City as a charitable event to raise money for the victims of Hurricane Sandy. She found it more difficult than swimming in the ocean. She described feeling cold, nauseous and a “burning” in her shoulders during the swim. The monotony of the pool lane swim also made her feel a bit crazy during the early morning hours. Other volunteers swam with her, and this was a comfort to her, as they spoke with her about their experiences with “Sandy”. The swim raised $105,000 for the cause.

Again she has accomplished what no other person has done.

Sex after 50, or 75? But of course!
Somehow sex is so often made synonymous with youthful looks, sexy bodies, and enormous libidos. It doesn’t seem appropriate that parents and grandparents might also be “getting it on,” and no one wants to talk about it, if they do. This stereotype does older people no favors, and may discourage many people who have the inkling for intercourse to dampen down their desires. Yet, a 2008 study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that more than half of those over age 50 and a quarter of those 75 to 85 were still sexually active. Dr. Betsy Crane, Widener University professor of Human Sexuality, thinks there should be more people exploring their sexuality than there are. “Sex is good for your health. It lowers blood pressure, elevates mood, boosts immunity, burns calories, and helps you sleep better. Men who have sex more often have a lower incidence of heart attacks.”

For couples who have let sex slip away, Dr. Crane recommends that physical intimacy may be rekindled by making time for romance, holding hands, kissing, and setting dates for sex. She recommends that instead of the youthful model of late-night sex, older couples arrange for siesta breaks, morning trysts, and choosing other times of the day when energy is high. She also advocates the use of sex toys, erotic literature and “outercourse”. Creative responses to physical limitations are also often necessary with older people, but pillows, new positions, and props can compensate. People without partners can also find ways to pleasure themselves as well.

Importantly, older people should realize that the hormone-powered drive that signaled the urge for sex in youth tapers off, and sex becomes more of a decision to engage in something ultimately satisfying than a sudden demand. “But once you make a decision, it can be fun. And there’s a lot more fun to be had.”

From: Sex after 50, or 75? But of Course by Melissa Dribben, Philadelphia Inquirer, October 20, 2013, G1, G7

John Bogle: Advice from Vanguard’s Founder
John Bogle is an entrepreneur, author and worldly wise man, who believes that his highest calling is to “build a better financial world and a better country.” At 84, Bogle remains active in his corporation, The Vanguard Group, a mutual funds company. Bogle has also written several books since his heart transplant in 1996, including his autobiography in 2008, Enough: The True Measures of Money, Business, and Life. Many investors and financial advisors pay close attention to his views, and admire him for his stands against the foibles and faults of various financial institutions in the last decade. He is not keen to retire, and says that “working keeps me alive… you get your tail out of bed in the morning and go out and do something useful.” Some words of wisdom from Bogle:
“Never forget the important role of luck in your life.”
“Never, never say, ‘I did it all myself’. Nobody does it all themselves.”
“Follow your own instincts, try to be yourself and live your own life.”
“Success is a journey and not a destination.”

AARP announces their latest book for older adults who would like to have their children know about their own views on the rest of their lives. How to have this talk is outlined, including tips on how to have honest discussions about medical care, finances, and what you might consider a “good death.” Check it out at aarp.org/OtherTalk

Another source for having important talks with significant others, is found on the Taos Institute site (www.TaosInstitute.net) The book is Healing Conversations Now: Enhance Relationships with Elders and Dying Loved Ones (2011) by Joan Chadbourne and Tony Silbert.Website Volunteering Opportunities
How to make everyday life more exciting? Join a volunteering activity. It is a great way to meet new people, test out new interests and be engaged in a meaningful way with others. It may also teach you something about yourself. In addition to these specific opportunities, if you Google “Volunteering Opportunities” you will discover a wealth of sites where you can find ways to offer your services in specific ways in special locations of your choice. These are a diverse group that may be of interest:

I’d like to accept your invitation, Mary, to share some information which might be of interest to you and The Taos Institute newsletter on Positive Aging.

It’s about a “GATHERING OF ELDERS...Seeking Wisdom and Hope for the World”. It took place on July 18th, Nelson Mandela’s birthday. Blest and applauded by Archbishop Tutu, now Chair of the International Elders group, it brought together a diverse group of twelve elder participants - including a Latina activist, college and university presidents, an activist Roman Catholic Nun, a Rabbi/University Professor, a class action attorney, a philanthropist, the CEO of an international marketing firm and a candy maker. The purpose of the group is to replicate the international group’s goals of making retirement a time of productive engagement in the world, using the resources of one’s own development. They also wish to convey a “counter-cultural image of elders as creative, generative, thriving, brilliant people who are harnessing their individual and collective wisdom for the benefit of the world.” (Taken from the Penguin Hall gathering summary, 2013)

I’m hopeful other Elders will be inspired to use our experience as a model.

From: Laurie Schur ‪‬
I very much enjoy your Positive Aging Newsletter. My film project, The Beauty of Aging Documentary Project, fits in with your views.

There is a lot of free footage on my website under Trailer, The Women and Hedda which I'm happy to share with your readers if you are so inclined to list my website - http://www.beautyofaging.com

I also have a blog on the site with a section called "Share Your Story" where people can write to me about an elder they want to honor.

It is a special privilege to be allowed to share a message sent to us by the Danish translator of the Newsletter, Geert Mork:
In January 2013 I was sitting in a small wooden house next to the sea, alone, with nothing but snow around me. 10 miles to the nearest town - and no one to make coffee to in the mornings. Life wasn´t showing me its most smiling face those days.

At that moment one of the most important emails in my life showed up in my mailbox: the Positive Aging newsletter no. 77. Ken talked about waking up in the morning in a cold and colorless landscape - pretty much like my own experience that very morning. And Ken - your beautiful story about motivational sources in our lives always having a relational source, touched me deeply. Just one year earlier me and my wife divorced after 35 years together, and I was slowly losing relations in my life, I felt, though, with the help of social constructionism we have managed to reconstruct our relation, based on all the good things we have had together during the many years, and today we´re better friends than we´ve ever been. But that´s another story.

That morning in January I suddenly realized that my focus on relations had been much too weak for many years. A couple of months later I was turning 60, and I started to think this as a unique opportunity to make some important changes in my life. I sent out invitations to people I hadn’t talked to for years but who used to be good friends in earlier years. I contacted family members I hadn’t seen for 15 years - and invited them too. And they all showed up in April to celebrate, and really made some warm and loving days, recreating some important relations in my and their lives. And the best part of it was that almost everybody started talking about the importance of relations and the importance of not forgetting each other, which has now led to several more meetings during the spring and summer. Life started to show its most smiling face again:-)

What I also want to share with you is this: in February I received an invitation to celebrate the 40-years high school anniversary. Normally I wouldn’t respond to this. I did not participate in either the 10-year or the 25 year anniversary. But Ken´s commentary made me think differently. I accepted the invitation, and actually became one of the members in the planning-committee. And during the planning meetings during the spring an old appreciation of the most beautiful girl in the high school slowly grew again.

Thanks to your comment in your newsletter my whole life has changed dramatically. From being concerned about life and future to becoming aware of all the love and good things in life, based on old and new caring and close relations.

Nostalgia could be defined as wistful reminiscing, thinking back on wonderful old times that will not come again. While it does have a painful side, people often feel that life is more worth living and death less frightening, as they experience nostalgia. Research has suggested that when people speak wistfully of the past, they typically become more optimistic and inspired about the future.

Recent research indicates that most people report experiencing nostalgia at least once a week, and nearly half experience it three or four times a week. These reported bouts are often touched off by negative events and feelings of loneliness, but people say these reflections help them feel better. The memories combine feelings of joy mixed with a sense of loss. Yet, the positive elements greatly outnumber the negative elements, as University of Southampton researchers found by analyzing stories collected in the laboratory as well as in the magazine, Nostalgia.

“Nostalgia serves a crucial existential function,” one researcher said. “It brings to mind cherished experiences that assure us we are valued people who have meaningful lives. Some of our research shows that people who regularly engage in nostalgia are better at coping with concerns about death.” Nostalgia has also been shown to counteract loneliness, boredom and anxiety. It makes people more generous to strangers and more tolerant of outsiders. Couples feel closer and look happier when they’re sharing nostalgic memories.

A quick way to induce nostalgia is through music. Professor Vingerhoets of Tilburg University and colleagues found that listening to songs made people feel not only nostalgic, but also warmer physically. On cold days, people can use nostalgia to literally feel warmer.

From: What Is Nostalgia Good For? Quite a Bit, Research Shows by John Tierney, New York Times, Science, July 9, 2013, D1

Purpose of Life: Older Men Speak
The intent of this study was to describe how very old men experience and reflect on the “purpose in life”. Conducted in northern Sweden, researchers invited individuals aged 85 and over to participate. This article describes the results of the study for the 69 men who filled out questionnaires and were interviewed. A majority of the men lived alone, five lived in an institution, ten were independent in activities in daily life, two had impaired reading vision, and ten of the men had impaired hearing.

The participants talked about purpose in life from various perspectives. Work was a theme that dominated their lives, when describing life’s purpose. Forming a family was also a main purpose in life— both living with a loving wife and feeling that the marriage was a success.

Some men focused on the present. Making the most of one’s day was expressed as a purposeful act: “I see the positive in every day, and tomorrow is a new day.” Finding joy in everyday situations and taking each day as it comes were important for purpose in life. To have confidence in relation to other people, society, and a higher power was stressed as important for experiencing purpose in life as a whole. The confidence in God was expressed as the ability during life to rely on God and place everything in God’s hands.

Being able to adapt to bodily changes, to continue to feel satisfied in life despite functional decline, and maintaining everyday activities were also mentioned as contributing to purpose in life.

Continuing with hobbies was also stressed as giving purpose in life; it was still important to feel that they could do their duty to make life meaningful: “I have to fill in my income-tax return and do my duty.”

In general, the men believed what was important to leading a life of purpose was: Living an honorable life, being good to others, doing their best and being decent.

Reclaiming Joy: A Peer Support Program
Reclaiming Joy is a program that tries to improve the lives of people who are aging, poor and physically disabled. The program matches older volunteers from the community with these older adults who have physical health problems. The volunteers receive training in strength-based approaches to life, goal setting and attainment, the use of community resources and safety. The pairs meet once a week for 10 weeks. Their first task together is to complete a strength-based inventory, which is then used as a basis for setting new goals for the Medicaid recipient. Guided by the recipient the pair work on new goals. Goals for the recipient may include better self-care and more social engagement, for example. The program is run by a services agency for the aging, at very low cost.

Outcomes of the program indicate that the program has positive results for the participants. Of the 32 people who completed the project, many showed a decrease in depression. Quality-of-life indicators for health and functioning improved for people whose evaluations indicated both depression and anxiety. Case managers who knew the participants suggested that Reclaiming Joy was effective in improving the clients’ physical health and reduced their need for home and community services and for hospital and nursing facilities. These cost savings are significant in light of shrinking state budgets for mental health benefits.

Oliver Sacks, a well-known psychiatrist and author of fascinating books on interesting mental patients he has known, writes about his 80th birthday in the New York Times.

“Eighty! I can hardly believe it. I often feel that life is about to begin, only to realize it is almost over. My mother was the 16th of 18 children; I was the youngest of her four sons, and almost the youngest of the vast cousinhood on her side of the family. I was always the youngest boy in my class at high school. I have retained this feeling of being the youngest, even though now I am almost the oldest person I know….

At nearly 80, with a scattering of medical and surgical problems, none disabling, I feel glad to be alive — “I’m glad I’m not dead!” sometimes bursts out of me when the weather is perfect. … I am grateful that I have experienced many things — some wonderful, some horrible — and that I have been able to write a dozen books,… and to enjoy what Nathaniel Hawthorne called “an intercourse with the world.”

I am sorry I have wasted (and still waste) so much time; I am sorry to be as agonizingly shy at 80 as I was at 20; I am sorry that I speak no languages but my mother tongue and that I have not traveled or experienced other cultures as widely as I should have done.

My father, who lived to 94, often said that the 80s had been one of the most enjoyable decades of his life. He felt, as I begin to feel, not a shrinking but an enlargement of mental life and perspective….. One has seen triumphs and tragedies, booms and busts, revolutions and wars, great achievements and deep ambiguities, too. … One is more conscious of transience and, perhaps, of beauty. At 80, one can take a long view and have a vivid, lived sense of history not possible at an earlier age. I can imagine, feel in my bones, what a century is like… I do not think of old age as an ever grimmer time that one must somehow endure and make the best of, but as a time of leisure and freedom, freed from the factitious urgencies of earlier days, free to explore whatever I wish, and to bind the thoughts and feelings of a lifetime together. I am looking forward to being 80.”

From: The Joy of Old Age. (No Kidding.) by Oliver Sacks, New York Times, July 7, 2013, SR12. A Farewell Fortissimo to Marian McPartland
Jazz pianist and performer Mary McPartland died at 95 of natural causes at her home on Long Island. Ms. McPartland was a well-known figure on the music scene, and at age 60 developed a jazz program on National Public Radio. For 33 years she performed and joined with her guests in ensemble tune-making. Among her guests were international jazz favorites, including Oscar Peterson, Keith Jarrett, Benny Goodman and Norah Jones. McPartland retired from hosting at the age of 93, although she continued as artistic director. Her 1987 autobiography, All in Good Time, recorded her long life, from her British childhood, through her marriage to an American jazz player, Jimmy McPartland, who was part of a USO troupe entertaining French solders in 1944, to her long and illustrious career in New York. Despite being English, white, and a woman, (as her first music critic described her), she prevailed in the macho world of jazz. Thanks for the music, Marian.

Over the Moon! A Guide to Positive Ageing
By Dr. Hannetjie van Zyl-Edeling, 2013, Porcupine Press.
It is not possible to properly report the title of this book because the usual phrase “Over the Hill” appears on the cover, only to have the word “Hill” crossed out and replaced by “Moon.” This clever move says much about the tone of the book. The work incorporates a huge variety of topics related to positive aging. The message of the book is clearly in line with our view that getting older is an opportunity not to be missed. Dr. Zyl-Edeling, a South African counselor, with degrees in dietetics, psychology and philosophy, provides a series of steps one can take to improve the quality of one’s life as one ages. Much of her advice is backed up by research relevant to the issue. Her views on aging emphasize the potentials of taking a positive perspective on aging, and of thinking of suffering as optional, age as relative, our cultural conventions of aging as detrimental, and the importance of humor. The book is charming in its inclusion of cartoons that emphasize the major points, and relevant quotations allow us to see how many folks, ancient and modern, have found ways of living purposefully and with excitement in the latter decades of life.

Some examples:
“We’ve replaced the saying, ‘The older you get, the sicker you get’ with the more accurate, ‘The older you get, the healthier you’ve been’.” Dr. Thomas Perls.

“A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor’s book.” Irish Proverb.

“Your power to live a pleasurable, prosperous life lies in your willingness to focus your attention on thoughts, people, places, and events that are joyful, fun, sexy, and uplifting,” Dr. Christiane Northrup (author of The Secret Pleasures of Menopause).

The author has a special interest in descriptions of brain chemicals, nutrition, and meditation, in addition to psychological and sociological research areas. Self-evaluation guides are also included. As with any book, it is possible to enjoy the parts that speak to one, and to ignore those that do not. There is much to value and enjoy in this compact, yet inclusive, volume. MMG

Next Avenue is a website for people over 50, “where grown ups keep growing.” You can sign up for this upbeat newsletter that advances the mission of the Positive Aging newsletter. Free, fun and factual.

Heather Hill writes from Australia:
I thought I'd take the opportunity to congratulate you on your newsletters which I always find interesting to read. I have just joined a Positive Ageing Reference group for our local shire council here in Victoria, Australia, and passed on the newsletter link to them. Our Shire has a positive ageing strategy - and one that is actually being enacted! It is very comprehensive, covering everything from work and community participation, to services to older adults, to infrastructure (eg putting benches along walking paths). I'm hoping that I'll be able to contribute positively over time to this strategy along with my fellow committee members.

CHOOSING CONSCIOUS ELDERHOOD (Sept. 29-Oct. 5, 2013, at Ghost Ranch Retreat Center, New Mexico.). Guided by Ron Pevny and Anne Wennhold. this retreat is for people 50 and up who seek a path to aging consciously. Structured as a rite of passage into conscious aging, the program includes life review and legacy work, sharing councils, ceremony, and time for solitary reflection amid magnificent natural beauty. For details, visit http://www.centerforconsciouseldering.com

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Miraculous Awakening
We thank Brian McCaffrey for sending one of the most unsettling and inspiring videos to cross our desks in some time. In the first few moments, we found the video difficult to watch. We are exposed to an aged and nearly toothless woman, Gladys Wilson, who is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Beyond some primitive bodily movements, Gladys cannot communicate; she seems lost in a fog, completely unavailable to others. Enter Naomi Feil, a diminutive, older woman, who practices what she calls validation therapy. She approaches Gladys with a kind voice and gentle touch. Slowly, through a combination of touching, singing, and coordinating movements, Gladys begins to respond. With continued patience and a caring dedication to being “with” Gladys, Gladys suddenly begins to sing. She holds onto Naomi and pulls her closer; their faces are now touching. And slowly, very slowly, Gladys begins to speak; she and Naomi are now conversing. It’s almost like watching someone emerging from the dead.

We were moved by this video in several ways. On a general level, it suggested that while scientific research may be good in specifying the nature of various infirmities, our response to these infirmities may require a great deal of imaginative ingenuity. There is nothing about Gladys’ brain scans from which Naomi could draw inspiration. Her ingenuity fed from the wellsprings of cultural wisdom. Closer to issues in positive aging, we found in this case a poetic analogue. There is a way in which the work-a-day world of adult life can be brain deadening. That is, the continuing routines and requirements of adult life have a way of narrowing one’s capacities to respond to the world. One comes to feel that his or her personality has congealed, that he or she is deeply and rightfully a “certain kind of a person.” The range of tastes, appreciations, and curiosities is reduced; certain persons or activities cease to matter.

As we see it, this is a dangerous attitude with which to enter the retirement years. With fewer work or family demands, one is left with the potentially deadening sense of a fixed and final way to be in the world. And, it is not so easy to simply pull oneself up by one’s own bootstraps; how can one imagine oneself being other than who one truly is? We erect comfortable walls between us and our possibilities. So perhaps one should be on the look-out for the Naomi Feil’s of everyday life, those people who may remind us of our “singing selves,” who may inspire new and invigorating dialogues. Or, what about playing out a form of Naomi Feil’s validation therapy with others who seem to languish in the world. Our mutuality of touch, and song, and voice may yield mutual freedom from solitary confinements.

Self-Compassion: A Resource for Positive Aging
We all are familiar with the value of compassion as extended to others. How often do we consider how compassionate we are to ourselves? These researchers were interested in how self-compassion might influence how positively we feel about life in the later years.

There are various definitions of self-compassion, most of which emphasize feelings of care, acceptance, and kindness towards oneself, especially when dealing with difficult situations. The opposite of self-compassion is self-judgment, in which one is highly critical of oneself.

The participants in the study were 185 adults, aged 65 and older. They completed several self-report measures, including one called the Self-Compassion Scale. The scale included items such as: “When times are really difficult, I tend to be tough on myself.” Other measures included the “Meaning in Life” questionnaire, with items such as: “My life has a clear sense of purpose”; and the Ego Integrity scale derived from the life stages work of Erik Erikson, with items such as “I am proud of what I’ve done.” Each participant also filled out a 20 item scale on emotions, indicating how much they had felt each of 10 positive and negative emotions during the past year. The items consisted of such opposites as excited vs. upset.

As the results showed, there was a high correlation between self-compassion and other indicators of well-being. People who were high in self-compassion were found to be high in feelings of well-being, as well as in ego integrity, and meaning in life. Those who were self-critical, were more likely to experience negative emotions, were fixated on adverse experiences, and felt alone in their suffering.

The researchers suggest that self-compassion can be modified. Treatment plans for increasing this dimension are usually aimed at one facet of self-compassion, such as self-kindness, self-judgment, or mindfulness. Mindfulness-based stress reduction programs have been found to increase self-compassion and well-being among younger adults, and could well be helpful for older people as well. Then, again, attempts to treat oneself with more loving care can begin at home, at any time!

Sweden’s Support for its Older Citizens
When looking at global issues regarding aging, we often turn to Sweden as the ultimate in government involvement in the well-being of their citizens. In this article, researchers compared the U. S. and Swedish services to older people. The U.S. is characterized by a mixed group of local, regional and governmental programs. Much is left to the individuals and their families to sort out care options for older members, often at high financial costs. It is of interest, then, to compare local support systems with those of Sweden:

In terms of nutrition, all Swedish municipalities offer home-delivered meals for those who cannot provide for themselves. They also offer meals at adult daycare centers. People pay for these. In Stockholm, the cost of a daily lunch, plus two hours of homecare per month, costs a maximum of $50 a month. Government agencies subsidize costs that exceed the maximum required of citizens.

Transportation: Public and special transport services are 100% accessible. In various modes, special provisions are made for older people and others who cannot manage ordinary forms of transit. For example, some busses are small, and have low floors. These are provided free, also for any traveling companion who provides assistance to someone. Some forms of transportation have costs, but they are minimal.

Help at Home: Together with the clients, help needs are assessed. Costs are also figured, depending on income. In Stockholm, the maximum cost to an elder for home health services used 3-5 times per week is about $128 per month. Informal caregivers, including family, also receive direct support and salaries. All caregivers get four hours of respite per week, as well as access to counseling, support groups and training.

The Swedish system guarantees the fulfillment of the goals for their older citizens through a highly involved system of services. The U. S. system is much less reliable in how it cares for older people. Comparisons such as these may be a source for political action.

From: Considering Quality of Life for Older Adults: A View from Two Countries by Susan M. Collins, Robbyn R. Wacker, and Karen A. Roberto. Generations, Journal of the American Society on Aging, Spring, 2013, 80-86.

Five Reasons to Look Forward to Aging
As we age, we do experiences changes and losses. But at the same time, there is much that we gain. Consumer Reports suggests these are the five top good things about aging.

Negative emotions decline as people age.
According to a Gallup telephone survey of more than 340,000 people in the U. S., people in their 70’s and 80’s report being troubled by negative emotions less than any other age group. Feelings of stress are at their peek at age 25, and drop rapidly from 60 to 73. Worry, which remains fairly high from 21 to 51, slumps at the same time. Anger is on a steady decline from age 21 to 85. Also happiness and well-being grow in the later years, as the negativity declines.

Wisdom Grows
In a study by researchers at the University of Michigan and University of Texas, subjects age 25 to 93 were asked to pass judgment on the outcomes of fictional reports of political disputes. Experts evaluated the answers on six dimensions. These included the ability to see other points of view, the likelihood of change, the many ways a conflict might unfold, the uncertainty and limits of knowledge and the possibilities for conflict resolution and compromise. Significantly more older people ranked in the top 20% on wisdom performance. People, average age of 65, outperformed younger participants. Wisdom does not seem to decline as do some other capabilities, such as memory and processing of new information.

Marriages Get Better
Married older people report greater satisfaction and more positive experiences with their mates than younger couples do, even when they quarrel, as reported in research in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. During arguments older spouses show more positive emotions and affection than middle aged couples. Happily married older people also report better health, quality of life, better ties with their children and closer friendships.

Positive Social Relationships Grow with Age
Having satisfying social relationships is important for all ages; older people tend to have fewer connections than younger ones, but they also have closer relationships with family and friends, which are rated as highly satisfying. Other forms of social connectedness are also important. For example, volunteering is helpful to the helping person, as well as to the helped, maybe more so. A study by researchers at Case Western Reserve University recorded the altruistic attitudes and deeds of 1,000 people age 72 and higher at a Florida retirement community. They found that volunteering was the most consistent predictor of cognitive well-being. Having altruistic attitudes also contributes to mental health in later life, according to a recent study in the Journal of Aging and Health.

Happiness Increases
Researchers at Stanford University followed the emotional health of 184 adults from 18-94 for 10 years. During three periods, these people reported their emotional states at 5 randomly selected times each day for a week. Various analyses indicated that aging is associated with more positive emotional well-being, and with more emotional complexity (a greater co-occurrence of positive and negative emotions). The older the participants, the happier they were. Those people who experienced more positive than negative emotions in everyday life were more likely to have survived over a 13 year period.

A director of the New England Centenarian Study of people 100 years and older, Thomas T. Perls said, “Being happy and content … is an important factor for most people in terms of their sense of well-being and even risk for various diseases.” Happy people tend to live longer, in better health.

Home Sharing in the New Economy
In these economic times, home owning is a major expense. It can be especially burdensome if living alone. How does one have a home and yet not go broke? The answer may be to share one’s home with others. This idea has gained ground recently, as older women, especially, have found home sharing to be an ideal solution to their living dilemmas. Not only is it possible to cut one’s costs for housing by at least a half, but one also gains helpful partners and friends in the bargain.

One example of a successful joint living arrangement involved women who knew each other from church, but were not close friends. Each was in her 50’s, was divorced, and had an active career. They decided to pool their resources and buy a house together. After conferring with lawyers, accountants and financial planners the three took out a mortgage on a 5 bedroom $400,000 Colonial in a suburb of Pittsburgh. Although they share much of the house in common, each has a private domain. One has the third floor bedroom, bathroom and office; another has the same arrangement on the second floor, and the third has the master bedroom suite. Each month they deposit the same amount into their joint checking account to pay for mortgage, utilities, property taxes and repairs. They each contribute a $100 gift card for buying and sharing groceries. If someone entertains, the cost is paid separately. After nine years, they continue to appreciate the value of living together, and have written a book about it: My Hous,

Our House: Living Far Better for Far Less in a Cooperative Household. Besides the financial benefits, each appreciates the others as close friends, and also helpers if emergencies arise.

The idea of house sharing has been spreading across the country. In Sarasota, Florida an organization called “Living in Community Network” helps people find potential housemates. In Portland, Oregon, the online service “Let’s Share Housing” provides a list of people who are interested in sharing a home. In Vermont there is a service called “Home Share Now.” A majority of those who explore these options are boomer women. Divorce and widowhood, having no children nearby, and being on limited budgets all encourage women to seek this option. They are also interested in finding others with whom they want to share a living space. Being alone, in itself, is a mixed blessing, and having some company at home is far preferable.

There are drawbacks, and living together involves compromises. Problems usually occur over household chores, pets, cleanliness, noise, guests or unexpected financial costs. If issues are worked out in advance, with written agreements, life can run smoothly. A plan for dissolving partnerships is also necessary as changes in health status, for example, might require that a partner move out. Agreeing on how to find a new housemate is also an important task. Still it is a movement on the cusp of exploding as more people realize its benefits.

Triumphs of Experience: The Men of the Harvard Grant Study, by George Vaillant. Harvard University Press, 2012.
At a time when many people around the world are living into their tenth decade, the longest longitudinal study of human development ever undertaken offers some welcome news for the new old age: our lives continue to evolve in our later years, and often become more fulfilling than before.

Begun in 1938, the Grant Study of Adult Development charted the physical and emotional health of over 200 men, starting with their undergraduate days. The now-classic Adaptation to Life reported on the men’s lives up to age 55 and helped us understand adult maturation. Now George Vaillant follows the men into their nineties, documenting for the first time what it is like to flourish far beyond conventional retirement.

Reporting on all aspects of male life, including relationships, politics and religion, coping strategies, and alcohol use (its abuse being by far the greatest disruptor of health and happiness for the study’s subjects), Triumphs of Experience shares a number of surprising findings. For example, the people who do well in old age did not necessarily do so well in midlife, and vice versa. While the study confirms that recovery from a lousy childhood is possible, memories of a happy childhood are a lifelong source of strength. Marriages bring much more contentment after age 70, and physical aging after 80 is determined less by heredity than by habits formed prior to age 50. The credit for growing old with grace and vitality, it seems, goes more to ourselves than to our stellar genetic makeup.

As Vaillant says, “If you stay healthy, 90 can be a lot of fun.”
(From the Harvard University Press.)

I am turning 93 in August and am hosting my Bright family reunion, expecting about 30 relatives to attend. I have been dating for about two years and we are experiencing the aging process together. My fellow is 2 1/2 years younger than I, however. I joke about it and say, “After all, all the men my age are dead.”

I still dance once a week, swim at least two times a week, do public speaking at least once a month, read poetry at the local coffee house, write a column each week for the local paper, get together with my family and my fellow’s family often, play solitaire before going to bed each night, play pinochle often, visit with my city neighbors often, stay involved in my political organizations, attend church and am now marketing a book that my late husband and I wrote together.

My website will soon be ready and that will help in marketing my book. I recently appeared on the Seattle Antiques Road Show on public television. Later today I will meet with a newfound relative that just researched her heritage and found me. Our prolific Bright family tree will now have another leaf.

THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER

January/February, 2013

Issue No 78

The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen,
dedicated to productive dialogue between research and practice. Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net).
“THE BEST IN…INSIGHTS IN AGING”
- Wall Street Journal

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Renewing the Vision
Periodically we like to renew again the central mission of this newsletter, thus clarifying what you may anticipate and how you may participate as readers. Since its inception, the readership of the newsletter has expanded at a rapid rate - now reaching thousands of subscribers in six languages. Our readers include, among others, gerontologists, health related researchers, therapeutic practitioners, service providers for the elderly, and, probably most prominently, interested laypersons. Many new readers of the newsletter may be curious about the orientation guiding the selection of content. Our primary aim is to bring to light resources - from research, news sources, and daily life - that contribute to an appreciation of the aging process. Challenging the longstanding view of aging as decline, we strive to create a vision of life in which aging is an unprecedented period of human enrichment. Such a revolution vitally depends on the communities of research and professional practices that focus on adult populations, especially people over 50. It is within these communities that new ideas, insights, factual support, and practices of growth enhancement can congenially emerge. By focusing on the developmental aspects of aging, and the availability of relevant resources, skills, and resiliencies, research not only brings useful insights into the realm of practice, but creates hope and empowers action among older people.

By moving beyond practices of repair and prevention, to emphasize growth-enhancing activities, practitioners also contribute to the societal reconstruction of aging. Reader contributions to the Newsletter are most welcome. If you have writings, insights, or practices that you feel would be especially interesting to subscribers of the Newsletter, you are invited to share them in future issues. We also review selected books and films, and carry announcements of relevant conferences and workshops. Please send your suggestions to Mary Gergen at gv4@psu.edu. Past issues of the Newsletter – both English and non-English versions - are archived at: www.positiveaging.net

To reintroduce ourselves, Kenneth Gergen is a Senior Research Professor at Swarthmore College, and Mary is a Professor Emerita of Psychology and Women's Studies at Penn State University, Brandywine. Ken and Mary are both on the Executive Board of the Taos Institute, a non-profit organization working at the intersection of social constructionist theory and societal practice. Each has a long history of engagement with gerontological inquiry and therapeutic practice. We hope you will join us in the present endeavor.

As early research suggests, there is a tendency among many people to reduce their range of interests as they grow older. It is simply easier to simplify life, to do what is comfortable, and to pay attention to immediate life concerns. However, as recent research indicates, there may be significant costs in closing down the range of interests.

A sample of people between the ages of 70 and 79, living in Pittsburgh and Memphis, were measured on a variety of variables related to health: Personality traits, body composition, health conditions and functional limitations, etc. The major question of interest was what might predict to difficulties in walking over time, and what might insulate people from this problem? During the six-year study, 20% of the sample developed difficulties with walking. Most prominently, people who were more depressed and less educated were more likely to have difficulties. More interesting, however, a major predictor of disability was a score on a personality variable called “openness to experience.” The more “open” to experience on this measure, the lower the risk of having walking limitations. In still other research, openness to experience has also been correlated with slower disease progression and reduced risk of mortality.

Explanations for why being open is healthy also remain open. Being open may encourage curiosity, and thus the learning of information that may directly contribute to health (eg. diet, exercise) or indirectly through suggesting new activities, or sources of pleasure, and by inviting an optimistic attitude. And too, being open may simply increased brain activity. All of these things may have an impact on one’s physical well-being.
From: Personality and Reduced Incidence of Walking Limitation in Late life: Findings from the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study by Magdalena I. Tolea, et al., The Journals of Gerontology, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 67B, 2012, pp.712-719.

Here are some of the highlights of the study:“Do you kiss or hug your partner in public?”
Among the happiest couples, 73% indulge in public displays of affection at least a couple of times a month. Not so happy couples are much less likely to do this.

“Do you hold hands, at least sometimes?”
Over three/fourths of couples do hold hands, but younger couples are more likely to do so. Only 50% of couples who have been together at least 10 years hold hands.

“Do you say ‘I love you’ to your partner?”
Among the happiest couples, 85% say this at least once a week. More than 90% of men tell their partners regularly, while only 58% of women do the same.

“Do you feel your partner loves you more now than when you first were married or started living together?”
40% say yes; 44% say about the same; and 16% say less.

“Do you exchange passionate kisses with your partner?”
74% of the happiest couples exchange passionate kisses at least once a week.

“Does your partner fulfill your needs?”
Slightly over half of the sample said “no.” About ¼ of the men say they aren’t having enough sex; About ¼ of women say they don’t have the lifestyle they had hoped for. About 15-20% of the sample want more affection.

“Do you have date nights?”
Among the happiest couples, 88% plan time alone together.

“How frequently do you make love?”
Almost 1/3 of the couples have sex several times a week; 28% have sex a couple times a month; 8% have sex once a month. 33% of the respondents say they rarely or never have sex. Among couples who report that they are extremely happy, ¼ rarely or never have sex. Clearly sexual activity is not required for couples to have a very happy life together. As one sex therapist has said, “Sex should be considered a hobby, not a necessity.”

The researchers concluded that engaging in romantic behaviors, such as holding hands, public expressions of affection, date nights, and saying “I love you” can help to bring a bit of magic back into a relationship that might otherwise be a bit ho-hum. Positive aging is all about that.

If you would like to fill out the survey, go to aarp.org/normalbarsurvey
From: Sex at 50+: What’s Normal by Chrisanna Northrup, Pepper Schwartz, & James White. AARP The Magazine, Feb/March, 2013, pp. 44-47

Let’s forget about dieting, exercise, and abstinence, and, instead, focus on ways to enjoy life while enhancing health.

Here are 10 tips:

Throw a Party. People with a consistent and active social life are less likely to experience a decline in reasoning and remembering. Social activity also helps preserve your ability to engage in everyday tasks.

Adopt a Pet. People with pets have healthier hearts and make fewer visits to the doctor. Pet owners are more physically fit (taking the dog for a walk), and less fearful and lonely. Pets are always there when you need them.

Exercising in the Out-of-doors
Although fitness centers have enjoyed enormous popularity in recent years, a growing body of evidence suggests that, if you have the opportunity, out-door exercise may be a better route to health. A number of small studies have found, for example, that people have lower blood levels of cortisol, a hormone related to stress, after exercising outside as compared to inside. Exposure to direct sunlight may also affect moods. Across many different studies, participants have also said they enjoyed exercising more outside, and after a good walk outside they scored significantly higher on measures of vitality, enthusiasm, pleasure, and self esteem; and lower on tension, depression and fatigue.
It is also possible that because outdoor exercise is more enjoyable, it is more inviting and encouraging. A study last year found that older adults who exercised outside exercised longer and more often than those working out indoors. Researchers asked men and women 66 or older about their exercise habits and then fitted them all with electronic gadgets that measured their activity levels for a week. The gadgets and the survey showed that the volunteers who exercised outside, usually by walking, were significantly more physically active than those who exercised indoors, completing, on average, about 30 minutes more exercise each week than those who walked or otherwise exercised indoors.

So take a deep breathe and head for the hills.
From: Baby its Cold Outside by Gretchen Reynolds. New York Times Magazine, Feb. 24, 2013, pg. 16.

Live Longer and Better: A Quiz
How do you answer these multiple choice questions from this quiz?
Each of the answers is backed up by scientific research on the topic.

Which of these is most likely to improve your memory after age 50?
a. Solving word puzzles?
b. Going on regular walks
c. taking ginkgo biloba supplements?
Answer: b. Walking is even better than puzzles. Supplements aren’t effective.

Which of these two habits could shave the most time off your life?
a. Watching TV
b. Smoking
Answer: Surprise! Every hour watching TV can cut 22 minutes from one’s life span; Smoking a cigarette reduces life span by about 11 minutes. (Don’t smoke while watching TV. That’s a double whammy).

If you are 45 and have lived an “unhealthy life” so far, you might as well forget changing now. (True or false)
Answer: False. It’s never to late to begin, even if it is just walking a few times a week.

If you are physically active and sociable, you can expect to add how many years to your life span?
a. 0.8
b. 1.5
c. 3.6
d. 5.
Answer: d. Research on people 75 and older who were physically active and sociable lived 5 years longer than people who were isolated and sedentary.
From: Live Longer & Better by Gretchen Reynolds, Parade Magazine, January 27, 2013, pgs. 10-11.

The Encore Career Handbook
If you’re among the 31 million people who are thinking about an encore career – a second act for the greater good – there is a new guide for getting there. The Encore Career Handbook, which the Associated Press called an “invaluable resource,” can help you find an encore that best suits you. Thinking of going back to school? Wondering about how to network? Want to know who’s hiring? The Encore Career Handbook, which debuted in January, can show you the way.

www.growingolder.co
Spiritual Resources on Aging for Individuals, Professionals, and Communities. Wonderful website with writings and music by Rabbi Dayle Friedman.

Theconversationproject.org
A website created to help people talk about their wishes for a good death. Retired columnist, Ellen Goodman, is encouraging people to share their thoughts and wishes with family members so that dying is not a silent, forbidden subject, but rather an important and focal one in our lives. Because people don’t have these conversations, certain things happen or don’t happen. For example, 70% of people say they’d like to die at home; yet, 70% of people die in hospitals, nursing homes or hospices.

We also recommend a book that has the same objective - Healing Conversations Now: Enhancing Relationships with Elders and Dying Loved Ones by Joan Chadbourne & Tony Silbert, A Taos Institute Publication (find it at www.TaosInstitute.net)

Roxanne Friedenfels, PhD, teaching at Drew University, writes:
Hi to everyone at Taos Institute, I thought some of you might enjoy the article (below) that I recently published in Rain and Thunder magazine. With best wishes,

Ageism: Ten Ways to Fight It
We live in an ageist culture. Women (much more than men) regularly face ageist expectations and comments....But how do we even start to fight against ageism? Here are ten ways to begin.

Never greet another woman by saying, “You haven’t changed a bit!” That suggests that women’s appearance shouldn’t change, at least not once they reach age 30 or so. The comment is never true anyway; we all change physically as we age. This ageist comment puts pressure on women to spend a significant amount of time and money on “looking younger,” and makes it harder for us to accept our aging faces and bodies.

Similarly, don’t greet other women with comments about their weight. Don’t say, for example, “You look great! So slim!” These supposedly “positive” comments are ageist, since women generally gain weight with age. We are NOT our weight. Some pre-adolescents may be naturally skinny, but for many adult women, being skinny is the result of cigarette smoking, dieting (the results are generally temporary), or illness, including bulimia and anorexia.

Following from the above, it can be anti-ageist to compliment women on their changing appearance. You might say, for example, “You have such wonderful gray hair” or “Fifty (sixty, seventy, or more) becomes you! You look terrific!” (Not everyone will be able to accept this type of compliment, however, so be judicious with this kind of praise.)

Boycott products that are advertised in an ageist way and don’t buy products from companies that discriminate against older people. On the occasions when older models are portrayed in ads in a way that is positive rather than demeaning, send a thank you note to the company.

Build close, positive relationships. Work, paid or not, becomes less important to most of us as we age, and relationships with family and friends become more important. Cultivating relationships is a way of preparing for being old.

Expanding on point #5, be open to friendships with women of all ages, including women who are older or younger than you. Don’t let age be a barrier to friendship.

Read and watch age positive literature, TV shows, and films. Ignore and/or protest age negative media. If something that’s supposed to be “entertaining” makes you feel bad about aging, and/or is demeaning to middle aged or old women, don’t expose yourself to it. Then take the next step, and contact the publisher or producer to tell them that you are boycotting the material. Explain why you think the material is ageist.

Don’t avoid giving your age. Your age is not something to be ashamed of! (Although there may be an occasional good reason for not sharing your age. For example, getting some jobs may depend on the employer not knowing your exact age.) But, as much as possible, embrace your age and be proud of your knowledge and wisdom. We would not be who we are if we hadn’t lived for as long as we have!

Calm your fears of aging by becoming informed about happiness and aging. Most people do not become less happy as they age; they become happier and more satisfied with life. For more information on this topic, see http://www.ted.com/talks/laura_carstensen_older_people_are_happier.html.

Don’t agonize about age, organize! ...You are never too young or too old to work against ageism. As Maggie Kuhn, co-founder of the social justice (and anti-ageist) group, the Gray Panthers, said: “We may not be able to butter our bread, but we can change the World.”

April 20-21, 2013: Gerontological Society of America and Beijing National University co-sponsoring an international conference, “The Sino-US Forum on Psychology of Aging.” Beijing, China. See www.geron.org/images/chineseforum2013CFA.pdf

November 20-24, 2013: Gerontological Society of American Annual Scientific Meeting:; Optimal Aging Through Research. New Orleans.Geron.org

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It was a cold, grey and rainy day in mid December. I awoke early, and slowly plodded my way to the kitchen. The house was dark and no life was stirring. I looked out on the colorless landscape, much as it had been the previous day. And the day before that. Slowly I found myself asking questions I otherwise like to avoid: where do I begin this day, and why? What is worth doing; how and why should I “light the fire” of the day? Nothing seems intrinsically significant, even my life itself. The questions moved me to meditate, “Well, Mary would love a coffee when she wakes,” “Paul is waiting anxiously for my comments on his paper.” “Michael was really hoping we could pick up our grandson from school today.” “Maggie was hoping we would come to dinner.” Slowly I began to realize that almost all the reasons for lighting the fire of the day were lodged in my relationships. Typically these were also relations of love, care, and respect. Even when I thought about motivational sources that seemed “mine alone,” they had a relational source. I love to write, but isn’t it always with an appreciative audience in mind? I go out of my way for delicious food, but could not imagine eating it alone. And didn’t I acquire my love for art and music from others’ enthusiasms?

I then began to ponder the 27 victims of the tragic school shootings in Newtown, Connecticut. What could possibly move this young man to murder all these innocent children? As the facts of his life began to emerge, a familiar pattern began to form: he was a loner, without friends, without organizational ties, and alienated family relations. There were none of the relational connectors that would create the value of others, the importance of nurturing the process of relating. And indeed, without these connections there was reason for animosity toward those cozy bands that “abandoned” him, cast him out of the halls of meaning making.

There are important implications here for aging. Everywhere there is evidence pointing to increased depression and suicide in aging populations. Why should one go on living when each day is effectively “cold, dark, and rainy?” As one ages, there is typically a reduction in one’s relational life. As my grandmother remarked when approaching her hundredth birthday, none of her friends remained alive. For the aging individual, the challenge then is to devote special attention to nurturing and sustaining one’s relations. Go the extra mile, even when inconvenient. Further, do not rely on your existing network of relations alone. Seek ways to expand the arena of connection, whether face to face or electronically. As our Newsletter has often reported, those who keep socially connected are better off in myriad ways.

There are also policy implications. Where the individual needs and capacities of older people have typically been foremost in planning, more attention should be paid to satisfying the relational needs of people, old or young. With vital relationships, there are vital beings.

Erik Erikson, the famous developmental theorist, long ago suggested that a successful adulthood, especially in the latter years, depended on caring for those who will follow after oneself. He used the term “generativity” to refer to activities dedicated to enhancing the well-being of others, especially younger people. Although generativity may provide one with a nurturing sense of fulfillment, the question raised by this research is whether it might also contribute to physical health.

To explore, researchers drew from a national sample of adults 60-75, who were assessed twice (1995, 2005) on various attitudinal and health related topics. In these telephone surveys, participants were asked how generative they felt they were in their lives. For example, “How much do you feel others need you,” “have skills to pass along,” and “have a good influence on others?” A second measure of generativity asked respondents to rate their current level of contribution to the welfare and well-being of others, including friends, family and the community. Various demographic indicators were also obtained from the participants, such as age, sex, educational levels, and ethnicity, as well as health indictors. They were also asked about physical activity, smoking, social contacts, productive activity, including jobs and volunteer commitments, and emotional wellbeing. Most importantly, researchers also noted changes in disability and death over the ten year period.

The results of the study indicated that generativity is a very powerful means of maintaining a healthy life. Adults rated as most generative in their 60’s and 70’s were less likely to experience increases in disability or to die as they aged into the next decade. Regardless of their health conditions and demographic features, generativity had a positive relationship with their physical well-being. The reason for this relationship remains unclear. Possibly a general satisfaction with oneself reduces stress and contributes to positive functioning of the immune system.

From: Contributing to others, contributing to oneself: Perceptions of generativity and health in later life by Tara L. Gruenewald, Diana H. Liao, & Teresa E. Seeman. The Journal of Gerontology, Series B. Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 67, 660-665.

It is common to fear the loss of health. As people often say, “you are lucky to have your health,” as if your happiness will soon fly from the window. And isn’t it obvious that people whose physical and cognitive functionings are waning, will suffer their loss? Recent research draws a radically different conclusion. This study, published online in the American Journal of Psychiatry, upends the stereotype of old age as a uniformly unhappy experience. And—even more surprising—the older the adult the more likely he or she was to report a high degree of successful aging. In fact, older age was associated with a higher rating of successful aging, despite worsening physical and cognitive functioning.

In this study researchers surveyed 1,006 community-dwelling adults aged 50 to 99 in San Diego County. The adults answered a 25-minute telephone interview followed by a comprehensive mail-in survey of physical, cognitive, and psychological functions, including positive psychological traits and self-rated successful aging, scaled from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest). Over all, there was a decline in physical and cognitive functioning with age. Most surprising, however, older individuals in the cohort reported higher rates of successful aging despite worsening physical and cognitive functioning. “It was clear to us that, even in the midst of physical or cognitive decline, individuals in our study reported feeling that their well-being had improved with age,” lead author Dilip Jeste, M.D., told Psychiatric News. “This counterintuitive increase in well-being with aging persisted even after accounting for variables such as income, education, and marriage.”

Jeste said the message for clinicians is that an optimistic approach to the care of seniors may help reduce societal ageism. “There is considerable discussion in public forums about the financial drain on society due to rising costs of health care for older adults.... But, successfully aging older adults can be a great resource for younger generations,” he said. “Perfect physical health is neither necessary nor sufficient” for successful aging, Jeste said.

From: “Association Between Older Age and More Successful Aging: Critical Role of Resilience and Depression by D. V. Jeste, G. N. et al. American Journal of Psychiatry, 2012, 10,1176.

Exercise is good for many things, but in this unusual study researches found it may also be good for mental abilities such as memory. In this case, University of California researchers recruited 31 normally functioning adults, and 23 who had been diagnosed with a mild cognitive impairment. In particular, the latter group had trouble remembering things. Each participant was shown a series of 20 emotionally positive images – baby animals, sports scenes, and beautiful landscapes. Then half of each group walked on treadmills to exercise for 6 minutes at 70% of their aerobic maximum. The other half of each group sat quietly. All were later tested for their memory of the photos.

As the results showed, the exercise significantly increased the recall of the photos. Among the normally functioning group, this single bout of exercise increased their recall of photos and details by 30% over their control group. Among those diagnosed with impairment, the exercise group improved their recall even more. They were able to remember twice as many photos and details as did those who did not exercise. They did not do as well as the seated group with no impairment, but it was still a great improvement.

Clearly this research shows the benefits of some vigorous activity in improving our memories. The duration of these effects remains unknown. However, the results do raise the question of how to simulate treadmill walking on a regular basis in the quiets of our homes. If a treadmill isn’t handy, perhaps shoveling, raking and mowing lawns might be a start.

Ageism, that is the tendency to discriminate against older people, is a national habit. Evidence can be easily garnered from the media – whether on talk shows, sit coms, or the news. Often we don’t even notice when ageism occurs, and that is because we carry our ageism right into the aging years. So long as we sustain these attitudes, we are undermining our own well-being. Becoming sensitive to such tendencies is a form of positive consciousness raising.

We agree with Carol Orsborn who believes that this generation of baby boomers can alter the tide of negativity. She recommends avoiding comments, satire or jokes that revile, infantilize or marginalize aging or older people. She also suggests that phrases such as “young at heart” or “youthful” be replaced by words that are age-neutral, such as “vital” and “passionate”. She also argues that statements, such as “You look great for your age,” are not helpful, and that “You look great” is sufficient to convey appreciation, without making the hidden assumption that normally people of your age look terrible.

Equating qualities, usually associated with youth, such as physical strength, exceptional health, beauty or mental acuity with successful aging is not always accurate or life-enhancing. Such criteria should be disconnected from the idea of successful aging. In fact, as the research we report above in this issue shows, many people do sever these ideas.

It may also be self-defeating at 65 to keep trying to act in a manner that was useful at 25. And, it is worth noting, we have the power to “stop wasting valuable energy either seeking approval or proving how much better we are than others.” As we age, we become free to engage in life however we wish, without worrying about how it looks to others. As the famous poem by Jenny Joseph says, “When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple with a red hat that doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me.”

Indian’s most famous musician, Ravi Shankar died in his home in San Diego, December 11, 2012, at the age of 92. People of our generation were the first to listen in rapture to Beatles’ songs influenced by his sitar music, such as “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds.” Although a classic sitar player, he became something of a pop idol in the US, playing at venues such as the Monterey International Pop Festival in California, and the famous Woodstock festival. Shankar composed movie scores, including Gandhi, the Oscar-winning film in 1982, and he also wrote music for world famous musicians, such as composer Philip Glass, violinist Yehudi Menuhim and flautist Jean-Pierre Rampal. He won three Grammys, including one for the Concert for Bangladesh, a benefit for Pakistan refugees, as well as for Full Circle: Carnegie Hall, 2000. He was highly regarded in India for his rigorous investment in traditional Indian music. Shankar was born in Varanasi, India, in 1920, and began playing music as a young child. In 1930 he moved to Paris with his mother, and began performing with the family dance and musical troupe. Later he returned to India and opened a school of music in Mumbai (then Bombay), as well, as one in California. One of his daughters is Norah Jones, a well-known pop singer, and the other is Anoushka Shankar, also a sitarist.

Shankar continued to the very end to perform. His last recital was on November 4 in California, approximately one month before his death.

Human Values in Aging Newsletter, edited by Harry (Rick) Moody and the Office of Academic Affairs at AARP, is distributed by the Humanities and Arts Committee of The Gerontological Society of America. The Newsletter contains interesting and inspiring items related to humanistic gerontology, along with brief and timely announcements. To submit items of interest or to subscribe contact: hrmoody@yahoo.com
For scholars in positive aging: CALL FOR PAPERS
You are invited to submit or recommend papers to the Advances in Aging Research (AAR, ISSN: 2169-0502), an open access journal.For more about the Aims & Scope or other information, please visit the following website:www.scirp.org/journal/aar

As an Open Access Journal, you will have full access to all the articles published online and be able to download them without any subscription fees. Moreover, the influence of your research will rapidly expand once you become an OA author.

The 6th Annual Conference on Positive Aging, sponsored by Fielding Graduate University, will be held in Los Angeles, CA, Feb. 10-12, 2013. Keynote speakers include Ram Dass (author Still Here) and Wendy Lustbader (author of Counting on Kindness and Life Gets Better). In addition, James Birren will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for Creative Longevity and Wisdom, from Fielding Graduate University.

March 12-16, 2013: Aging in America: 2013 Annual Conference of the American Society on Aging. Chicago, IL. Each year this conference brings together relevant content, innovations, best practices and replicable models, and develops leadership on the most critical issues in the field of aging. Among the timely topics addressed will be care transitions, global aging, post-election implications, transforming retirement, diversity, financial competence and much more. Early registration is now open. Register before January 31 and save up to $100. www.asaging.org/aia

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Many thanks,
Ken and Mary Gergen

There is a popular slogan making the rounds, “Old Age is Not for Sissies.” And to be sure, with increased threats to health and life, the loss of spouses and friends, and the like, it is easy to identify with this sentiment. However, one feeling that has often swept us up is sheer admiration for the way so many older people meet these harrowing challenges and continue to live lives of significance. We have now come to feel that they constitute a class of heroes, displaying ingenuity, determination, and bold resistance to the challenges of time. This election offered up one story we are compelled to share:

Ron, as we shall call him, was nearing his 75th birthday. He was a long way from home, visiting his grandchildren, a new baby and a 3-year-old boy. While eating his breakfast with his grandson one morning, he suddenly collapsed and fell to the floor. The boy cried out, “Grandpa, what are you doing?” The boy’s father heard him, and rushed to the kitchen. Ron was unconscious and apparently dying of a heart attack. With extensive CPR and the medics’ repeated attempts with a defilibrator, Ron finally began to breathe. He was put into an induced cold coma for days, and then he began to recover. With continuing need for care, including pain relief for his 10 broken ribs, he was not released for another week. With only a 5% survival rate for this kind of episode, the word “miracle” was whispered among the family. With his wife, Ron finally was able to fly home. Knowing about his brush with death, we were shocked when two days later, we ran into him making phone calls in a volunteer headquarters, helping as best he could to get out the vote for the elections. Ron is not alone in his heroism; he speaks for so many others, but in a very loud and inspiring voice.

It is generally assumed that with the rise in physical ailments that people acquire as they age, their sense of life satisfaction and fulfillment will decline. Yet, while there may be some truth to this hypothesis, these researcher show that there are surprising limitations to the view.

Approximately1,000 older people in the national survey of Midlife in the United States provided information about their chronic medical conditions and also described their ongoing psychological states. Although the scale that measured life satisfaction went down slightly as health problems increased, other measures were unrelated to these increases. Instruments that measured positive affect - that is, how happy people are - were unaffected by chronic conditions. People also indicated that their sense of purpose in life was not changed in relationship to chronic ailments. Participants continued to strive in their own ways to make a difference in the world, regardless of their medical conditions. Last, the extent to which people had positive relationships with others was not related to chronic health issues.

The research also involved checking on the level of certain blood chemicals that indicate the degree of inflammation in the body. The lower the inflammation rate, the better the prognosis is for a longer life. Those respondents with higher levels of purpose in life, positive relations with others and happier feelings, had indicators that their bodies were fighting off infections better than their colleagues who had lower well-being scores. It appears that as we go through life, we will be niggled by conditions that are not especially pleasant, but which fade in their importance to the extent that we focus on satisfying activities and relationships. Older people seem to develop the knack of being pretty happy, based on many things besides their physical conditions.

From: Living well with medical comorbidities: A Biopsychosocial perspective by Elliot M. Friedman & Carol D. Ryff. The Journal of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 67, 535-544.

Beating Depression
Many of us suffer from time to time with sadness, lethargy, and possibly a sense of hopelessness. Psychiatrists often view such a state as a “mental illness,” labeling it as “depression.” The diagnostic label is frequently assigned to older people. Most frequently the “depressed” person is treated chemically - with anti-depressant pills. However, to define such a state as a “mental illness” is simply the preference of the psychiatric community, and has no foundations beyond that community. One should be cautious in accepting the definition and the chemical treatment, with all its unreliability and side effects. Further, there are more promising ways of looking at the condition, and of moving beyond it.

It is in this vein that we are pleased to report on a recent article in the American Psychologist. University of Melbourne professor, Anthony Jorm, has gathered self-help strategies encouraged by psychological professionals that can that counteract the “blues.” Here are some of our favorites:

Engage in exercise or physical activity

Try to sleep on a regular schedule

Do something you enjoy

Engage in some purposeful activity some of every day

Do what has worked before to make you feel better

Engage in an activity that gives a sense of achievement

Ask a friend to encourage you to get out and do something

Reward yourself for reaching a small goal

Learn to relax

Eat a healthy, balanced diet.

We would add to this list our own recommendations: Find ways to laugh out loud; get involved in a worthy cause; lose yourself in the arts; and, engage in sensual pleasures.

From: Metal Health Literacy: Empowering the Community to Take Action for Better Mental Health by Anthony F. Jorm, American Psychologist, 2012, 67, 231-241. Holding on to Memory Ability
As we age, in some respects our memories may become less acute. In general various research studies indicate that younger people are better than older people at accuracy in recall. Why this is so, is not clear. Often researchers look for biological causes for this general decline. Yet, when experiences are rich and deep, there is more competition when trying to recall a detail. If you know 10,000 people, it is more difficult to recall a name than if you know but a 1,000. However, there is also a matter of motivation. How much does one try to recall, especially when placed in a research setting? This latter possibility is relevant to current research on stereotypes and memory. Here the researchers wondered whether people who hold negative stereotypes about aging might be poorer at memory tasks than those who do not.

The participants in this longitudinal study were from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, and at the beginning included 113 women and 282 men. They ranged from 22-57 at the beginning of the study. They had high levels of self-rated health, and were highly educated. (77% had graduated from college.) Twenty-two years later there remained in the study 27 women and 60 men, aged 40-74. Participants were evaluated in terms of depression, education, marital status, chronic conditions, race, self-rated health and gender. Most important for the present study, each had responded to a 16 item age-stereotype scale, composed of negative items about old people. Items included: “Old people are absent-minded” and “Old people cannot concentrate well.” They were also asked when does “old age” begin, and if they were older than this age. Or, one might say, did they feel the old age stereotype applied to themselves? Participants were finally measured every 6 years on a figure memory test, in which they had to recognize from memory a set of 10 figures. As the results showed, participants who had more negative age stereotypes had worse memory over time than those with less negative age stereotypes. The difference between the two groups increased as they aged. Overall there was a 30% greater memory decline for those 60 and above in the more negative age-stereotype group compared to those with lesser stereotypes. The difference became greater the older the person. When the person judged themselves to be “old” the impact of negative stereotypes was greater than if the person still did not consider him/her self old. Other aspects of well-being did not undermine these findings.

The researchers suggest that people are exposed to a range of negative opinions about old people as they age, and if they are accepted, they function like a self-fulfilling prophecy. The positive side to this story is that resisting the prejudicial practices of “putting down” older people, even as a young person, preserves one’s capacities in old age.

From : Memory Shaped by Age Stereotypes Over Time by Becca R. Levy, Alan B. Zonderman, Martin D. Slade, & Luigi Ferrucci. The Journal of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 2011, 67, 432-436.

Artin Elmayan is the world’s oldest ranked tennis player, at 95. He is 26th among players over 85, a list led by Italian Angelo Sala, 86. There are 39 men in the International Tennis Federation ranks for men over 85. Elmayan emigrated to Argentina from Armenia in 1938 at age 21. He never took a tennis lesson, but began to play at 39 after first paying paleta, a similar game with wooden paddle-rackets and rubber balls. Tennis provides him with a healthy and active life style. He tries to play 3 times a week. Elmayan’s entire family loves to play tennis, including his wife, now 88. His philosophy: “First there is eating and then comes tennis. It is part of my life to stay in shape in every way. Tennis makes you breathe oxygen, keeps you from getting a belly.”

Some Tips for Staying Tip Top
We share few tips on maintaining an active life style and avoiding injury to yourself while having fun:
Ease into Action: Start slowly and let your muscles warm up. Don’t jump into vigorous activity too fast.
Strengthen the “core” .. the muscles in the middle. One way is to do “push-ups” only with the forearms on the floor, not your hands.

Play Flamingo. Its a balancing act, but try to stand on one leg at a time, and make it harder on yourself as you get better.

Stretch when you aren’t doing anything else. Seems to be better than stretching before exercise. Who Knew??
Treat Yourself: After a vigorous outing, have a bit of chocolate and some milk. Helps build muscles quicker.
Take a Load Off. Don’t exercise every day. Go with your feelings, and if you are still tired, take another day off.

From: How to Stay Active Forever by Gretchen Reynolds. AARP The Magazine, August/September, 2012, 20-22.
Tom Wolfe: Did Someone Say Retirement?
At age 81, Tom Wolfe has just published a new book, Back to Blood. The novel is a portrait of Miami as a city of immigrants, where ethnicity takes pride of place. Typical of a Wolfe novel, each group comes in for sarcastic renditions. In Miami, Venezuelans, Cubans, Colombians, Haitians, Russians and Israelis jostle one another to get a foot on the ladder of the American dream, while those above them — the snobs, climbers, rich and superrich — keep their top-notch places, precariously.

Wolfe, a National Book Award winner, has had a huge audience of avid readers since the earlier publication of such favorites as Bonfire of Vanities and The Right Stuff. The present work is Wolfe’s third novel since he turned 70. And, we find there are six new projects currently intriguing him. No resting on laurels here, and for many of us Wolfe is a model of sustained, creative engagement.

Hannah Kruglanski relates an inspiring story:
Dear Gergens, I thought you might want to share this fascinating story about a law professor turned artist turned dancer in her 74th year. The youtube video is in Hebrew, but this is what it is about, from my translation:

Ruth Ben-Israel was a Professor of Law at Tel Aviv University. An expert in labor law, civil procedure, social security, and occupational equality. In addition to her prolific research and publications, Ruth served as dean of the Law Faculty, and as an adviser to major governmental committees on legislative issues regarding labor, welfare, and women equality. She won the top awardsin her field of which the most known are the Israel Prize in law, andthe Israel Bar Association Prize for Women in Law.

Upon her retirement at the age 74 she decided to retire her professional life. She took some symbolic measures of giving away her legal library, and of erasing her legal professional work from the computer. Her next step was acquiring skills in computer graphic design, with a goal of telling biblical stories in pictures. It was a major change facing challenges of mastering a new field in which she was no longer the admired expert. As well as learning how to communicate with students who were her grandchildren's age.

Over five years she accomplished her goal of painting scenes from the bible. She was ready for a new path. That of performance dancing. She met a dance choreographer who was interested in creating a show about Old Age. She interviewed Ruth who with her husband had co-authored a book named "Who's afraid of the golden age". As a result, she invited Ruth to participate in her performance. Ruth accepted the challenge. With 50 stage performances, and with a card stating she is a professional dancer, Ruth is ready for her new path. In her words "I painted for the last 5 years and I’m ready to change again I believe a person who is fulfilled and self actualized is one that contributes to society. I am trying to be that person."

Dog Days, With a Bone
Mary and I spend a great deal of time searching for good materials for this newsletter. We prize anything we can find that helps to construct the last third of life as a period of unprecedented growth and enrichment. Yet, we also know that aging is not easy, “not for sissy’s” as the popular poster reads. Positive aging, then, lies in the approach we take to our lives, and the challenge is in actually approaching life in this way. So often, it simply doesn’t seem realistic. What’s so positive about illness, the loss of capacities, loneliness, and so on? Well, in this past month I had an opportunity to directly confront the beast.

It was mid-August, and time for vacationing at the shore with the family – swimming, tennis, golf, long walks on the beach, excursions with the grandchildren, and all the rest. However, just days before the anticipated holiday, while playing tennis with friends, I leaped forward for a ball that dribbled over the net, and rip! My Achilles was nearly shorn in two. There was first the searing pain, and then the long dull pain, followed by the pain produced by trying to walk in the large boot/cast that was to be my companion for the next six weeks. There was to be no vacation, as I would be confined to a chair, with long periods of lying prone with my leg hoisted in the air. Hot, humid, dull, dog days.

So, these were the cruel facts; a “positive approach” indeed! Or, at least, so it felt for a time. But there is in the mediation world a concept of “double listening.” This means, one should pay attention not only to the dominant story a client is relating, but to subtle signals that there is a second, and untold story lying behind. I soon began to find my own signs of an untold story behind the obvious tale of misery. There was first the fact that the confinement to my desk meant that the staggering stack of demands that colored my daily life with guilt was now dwindling. I could welcome a certain lightness of heart. And, lying there on the bed, foot propped in the air, I began digging into several books I had longed to read. Within days, I realized that I was entering a period of significant calm, a lovely feeling of balanced centeredness that a family vacation could never offer. There were also the more guilty pleasures of being relieved from household duties, finding people waiting on me, and being ushered to the head of lines. But each day, if I am prepared to listen, there are positive voices there to be heard, voices that lead me into new and nourishing spaces of being.
Should I plan now for an annual injury to replace the normal vacation? No, but I have acquired some valuable resources for supplementing the dog days with a delicious bone.

Believe in Your Future
If you think you may live a long time, you may indeed be contributing to your longevity. At least one reason is that you may be motivated to keep yourself in shape for the journey. Consider physical exercise, for example. Although it is a popular mantra that physical activity is a key to healthy living, participation in physical activity remains low. More than half of U. S. adults do not regularly engage in physical activities and one quarter are defined as sedentary. We see this in our own circle of friends. Our friend, Vera, at 95, feels no compunction to exercise, and her interest in moving around is low. As a result, she has a lot of trouble going from place to place, and prefers to sit at home or in a car, as opposed to walking anywhere. She is perfectly happy with the situation. Reasonably, she does not think her life span is very long.

Researchers Sarah Stahl and Julie Patrick were interested in whether our thoughts about how long we have to live affects our desires to exercise. In this research study, 226 participants ranging in age from 20 to 88 were surveyed online. They were evaluated in terms of their age, sex, body mass (how fat they were), their sense of physical limitations and their future time perspective (how long they thought they would live.) As the results showed, people who thought they would live to an old age were more likely to report engaging in physical activities. Also interesting to us, chronological age was unrelated to exercise. Older people were no more or less likely to exercise than the younger ones. Most importantly, thinking positively into the future seems to encourage one to engage in just the kind of healthy behavior that will take them there.

Joys of “Aging in Place”
“Aging in place” is a term used by researchers and policy makers to describe conditions in which older people remain in their homes instead of moving to a residential institution, where they are part of a larger community of older people. Generally the meaning of the phrase is restricted to the actual structure of a house or apartment, and there are no emotional or practical aspects of community involved. From a social policy perspective, it is cheaper to have people remain in their own homes, and so there is general agreement that it is a “win-win” deal if people do continue to live where they have been for a long time, and they like it.

In this research, the effort was to discover what older people had to say about aging in place. What do they understand as the significant aspects of remaining in their homes, and what do they value about it? The research was done in two communities in New Zealand. Over one hundred people ages 56 to 92 were brought together in small focus groups and in interviews to discuss “What is the ideal place to grow older?” In general, the most important aspects of an ideal place were psychological in nature. Staying put is desired because of a sense of attachment and connection one has established. There is a feeling of security that is related to being familiar to others outside one’s home. People feel they are known and have value to others, highly important in maintaining a sense of identity. There are also warm and caring relations maintained by staying in one’s place. In addition, people know how to get around in the familiar setting. They know where the bank, drug store, grocery store, and medical offices are. They believe the police will come quickly if they are in trouble. This sense of locatedness reduces anxiety and allows for habits developed over decades to persist.

Regardless of where they lived, participants emphasized the “safe, socially vibrant active communities” in which they resided. Although the statistics about crime and other deteriorating conditions were available for them to consider, the residents did not focus on the negative aspects of their own neighborhoods, but on the positives.

Breaking the Stereotypes of Aging
The negative stereotypes of aging continue to circulate in society, and worse still, we come to believe them. Because they are accepted as true, they become prophetic. And yet, so often research gives us good reason to reject these stereotypes. Consider first, various research studies of cognitive capacities and aging. As we age, what do we lose in terms of mental acuity? A University of Illinois study of air traffic controllers found that the older controllers were more proficient at their extremely difficult jobs than younger ones, despite some losses in short term memory and visual spatial processing. They excelled at navigating, juggling multiple aircraft simultaneously, and avoiding collisions. In other words, despite their deficits, older traffic controllers were better at their jobs than younger ones.

In another area, social relations, older people also excelled. Researchers at the University of Michigan presented “Dear Abby” advice-seeking letters to 200 people and asked what advice they would give to the writer. Subjects in their 60’s were rated as better than younger advisors because they were more able to imagine different points of view, think of multiple resolutions, and suggest compromises.

As we have reported previously, older people are more able to manage their emotions than younger ones. A German research team had people play a gambling game meant to induce regret. Compared with the 20 year olds, 60 year olds didn’t agonize over losing and they were less likely to try to redeem their losses by later taking bigger risks. Although more balanced, people over 50 reported in a telephone survey done at Stony Brook University that they were happier than younger people, less stressed, and much less angry than younger folks. Other studies indicate that the negative emotions, such as sadness, anger and fear become less pronounced as we age.

As Cornell sociologist Karl Pillemer and co-workers wrote in 30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans, older people tend to say things such as, “I wish I’d learned to enjoy life on a daily basis and enjoy the moment when I was in my 30’s instead of my 60’s.” This research and many other studies agree that the stereotype of the sad old person is truly misguided.

Risk and Renewing of Zest
Writer Ken Budd suggests that the key to a healthier, happier you is to do some things that take you out of your daily routines, your usual pleasures, and your “comfort zone.” Often, after 50, people reduce the amount of risky behaviors they want to engage in. Frequently the result is that boredom sets in. Life is safe, but dull. Without any challenges, people often turn to activities that are not very healthy, such as smoking and drinking too much, and finding a comfy spot on the couch.

Budd recommends that you consider ways of challenging yourself in any arena of life. The advice to get outside your comfort zone is not a request that you run with the bulls in Pamplona. It doesn’t have to be a challenge that puts you in harm’s way. What is important is to become actively engaged with people and ideas in a way that gets you on your toes. New experiences help breathe vitality into your life, and this often leads to exhilarating feelings of joy.

For long term marital partners, the danger of becoming stuck in old patterns that have been satisfying in the past is ever-present. Having the kids over for Sunday evening supper may be satisfying, but after 15 years it becomes less so. Changing the time to a brunch followed by afternoon games lends a new luster to family life, as does a Sunday apart. It may be hard to see comfortable patterns as the enemy of a good marriage, but with an occasional upsetting of the routine, new excitement can be found.

Budd also recommends becoming a novice at something. Learn a new language, visit a new place, take up a new sport... be willing to put yourself into a position of being a rank amateur. The fear of failing or making a mistake is something we have learned to avoid; instead, being willing to fail leads to new powers and potential pleasures.

One of the benefits of doing novel things is that the neural pathways in the brain are reconfigured. New connections are made, which makes you more able to think and act in new ways. Taking tango lessons, for example, allows your body to acquire new physical moves and new orientations to your dance partner and the floor.

As author Rick Foster said, “The more I say yes, the more variety there is in my life. I force myself to say yes because ... health [is] directly tied to novelty and change. Every time I’ve said yes, it’s paid off.”

From: New Adventures, New Risks, New You, by Ken Budd. AARP The Magazine, June/July, 2012, 60-63. Senior Transportation Innovation in Florida
At the University of Florida a model innovation to support senior mobility has been launched. The university’s Institute for Mobility, Activity and Participation has developed the Florida Senior Safety Resource Center, a database containing over 800 transportation services. This up-to-date and user-directed information for seniors or persons with disabilities addresses the need to find appropriate, acceptable and affordable transportation options within their local communities. These services range from highly organized to very flexible and provide various levels of assistance, throughout all of Florida’s 67 counties. To take a look at the outcomes, go to http://www.SafeandMobileSeniors.org/FindARide.htm.

A recommendation for friends and family, especially women with careers they love. Retiring but Not Shy: Feminist Psychologists Create their Post-Careers, edited by Ellen Cole and Mary Gergen, has been getting kudos from readers for its compelling personal stories. The book serves as a guide for those who are considering retirement, whether they look forward to it or not. Find the book or the e-book version at www.TaosInstitute.net/publications
or online at your favorite store.

From the Second-Half of Life Blog of David Solie (www.davidsolie.com/blog/, December 27, 2011:
I have begun working on a new project to create a “How To Say It” communication coaching book for elders. The goal will be to provide elders with insights and strategies for working with their adult children. Part of the work will be to educate elders about the development tasks of middle age, and, based on these tasks, which words and themes are the key to effective communication with their adult children. Part of the work will be to map out openings, scripts, and settings for conversations about the predictable dilemmas of aging, especially at the end of life. These prompts won’t make the choices any less painful or messy, but they will offer a perspective and context to start and sustain conversations, a critical starting point to engage dilemmas that are here to stay.

Mary Gergen’s comment: The other side of the task is helping younger generations speak to older ones. Healing Conversations Now by Joan Chadbourne and Tony Silbert, published last year by Taos Institute publications, emphasizes this approach. Clearly it is not a one-sided endeavor. Times have changed as more and more people choose to die at home or in hospices, with loved ones around them. How can the preferences and potentials for each generation be communicated and honored, mutually? That is at the heart of what needs to be exposed. Find it at www.TaosInstitute.net/publications

Lynn W. Huber writes:
I LOVED reading your lead article in the May/June issue (Who Laughs, Lasts); having just turned 70 (after working for 30 years in the field of aging and spirituality) it feels as though I am living what I have been teaching, and it's true!!! Your teasing out the dimensions, and your delicious examples of each, somehow touched me deeply and encouraged me in living this all out.
Blessings and peace

October 9-12, 2012: The 19th International Congress on Palliative Care, Palais des Congrès in Montréal, Canada. This biennial Congress has grown to become one of the premier international events in palliative care. www.palliativecare.ca/pdf/Pal_PrelEng2012.pdf to view the Preliminary Programme.

]]>http://www.taosinstitute.net/2012-julyaugust2012 May / Junehttp://www.taosinstitute.net/2012-may-juneThu, 05 Jul 2012 05:00:00 GMTContent DeveloperPDF version of the 2012 May/June Positive Aging Newsletter to download: Issue 74 May/June 2012 THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER May/June, 2012 Issue No 74 The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen, dedicated to productive dialogue between research and practice. Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net). “THE BEST IN…INSIGHTS IN AGING” - Wall Street Journal In this Issue: COMMENTARY: Aging and the Enriching of Consciousness RESEARCH: Family Support for the Cognitively Im...]]>PDF version of the 2012 May/June Positive Aging Newsletter to download: Issue 74 May/June 2012 THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER May/June, 2012 Issue No 74 The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen, dedicated to productive dialogue between research and practice. Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net). “THE BEST IN…INSIGHTS IN AGING” - Wall Street Journal In this Issue: COMMENTARY: Aging and the Enriching of Consciousness RESEARCH: Family Support for the Cognitively Im...PDF version of the 2012 May/June Positive Aging Newsletter to download: Issue 74 May/June 2012

THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER

May/June, 2012

Issue No 74

The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen, dedicated to productive dialogue between research and practice. Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net).

Aging and the Enriching of Consciousness
We have written a great deal in past Newsletters about the benefits of aging. Our hope in this is not only to challenge the pervasive and debilitating construction of age as decline, but also to kindle a deeper appreciation of this time of life. We have recently been struck by what we feel is the way aging enriches our conscious experience. There are at least two forms of this enrichment, one a sharpening and the other a layering of our daily life experiences. In the case of the sharpening of appreciative attention, we liked the words of the novelist Martin Amis, from a recent New York Times interview, “Life grows in value…Not very significant things suddenly look very poignant and charming. This particular period of my life is full of daily novelty. That turns out to be worth a great deal.” This kind of sharpening of experience is hastened by the growing awareness of the finite. When life appears endless, one scarcely savors the passing moment; when the end is closer at hand, each moment bursts with flavor.

In the case of layering, the everyday world becomes animated by our histories. A coffee cup is not simply a cup sitting there on the table. It is alive with memories – of the visitor who brought it as a gift; the design that evokes special moments in Southern France, and a mother who always admired these ceramics. Layer upon layer of memory, images, and feelings. This same layering of experience is there in the hydrangea bush, the arrival of the Sunday paper, the dining room carpet, the rake and the shovel, and so on. Simply walking about each day can set before us a feast of experience cooked up by the chef of memory.

Such enrichment also gains by virtue of contrast. When one has lived through life’s many challenges – its glories and its agonies – the meaning of the moment is not exhausted in itself. Rather, one can experience it in terms of its similarities and contrasts with other times. A man is not simply holding a grandchild on his lap; he may also be aware of a “new beginning,” “the sustaining of a tradition,” “a changing relationship to his own offspring – now a father or mother,” and “the creation of a new identity” for himself.

At these times, we may smile deeply in ways that those with fewer years under their belts could not possibly understand.

Family Support for the Cognitively Impaired
Changes in the aging brain can often bring about mild impairments in memory and reason. Such changes can also frustrate and irritate spouses or other family members. “You are not paying attention to me!” “Why can’t you listen when I call you?” “You just don’t hear anything I say, do you?” Such comments are alienating, and family life falls flat. But, this need not be the case, and if properly approached, such impairments can actually bring families together.
In this research interviews were conducted with 56 family triads, in which one of the older members had been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. The triad included this person, the primary care partner, and a secondary care partner – for example, an impaired father, a mother and an adult child. The major focus of the research was on how the triad dealt with this impairment, and what sorts of relationships created the most successful coping strategies. Each member of the triad was asked about how much impairment had occurred, their past experience with dementia, how much change had occurred, and why they thought it was happening. Families were evaluated as 1) in complete agreement on the diagnosis of impairment, 2) in denial of the impairment, or 3) as in mixed in their opinions.
The results of the research showed that family members who agreed about the impairment were able to proceed more successfully than those in which there was conflict of opinion or denial. In families where the one who had mild cognitive impairment was thought to be willfully difficult and uncooperative, there was more stress and least successful coping. Most heartening, in those families where all agreed about the impairment, members adjusted to each others’ observations and concerns, and they banded together to support one another while managing the changes.
The researchers stressed the importance of family members’ coordinating with each other in helping people adjust to mild cognitive impairments. Families that were “on the same page” reported actively trying to be kind to the older persons and not blame them for their shortcomings. Such families were also prepared to cooperate for future changes, thus avoiding frustrating or angry outbursts. The researchers suggest that community based programs be developed so that families will be prepared to cope with impairments, and will allow the afflicted person to be more forthcoming about help that may be needed.

From: Family Triad Perceptions of Mild Cognitive Impairment by K. A. Roberto, R. Blieszner, B. R. McCann, & M. C. McPherson. R.H., Journal of Gerontology: Series B.: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 66, 756-768.The Joys of “Aging in Place”
“Aging in place” is a term used by policy makers in referring to older people who remain in their homes instead of moving to a residential institution in which they are part of a larger community of older people. Generally the meaning of the phrase is restricted to the actual location of the person in a house or apartment; there are no emotional or practical aspects involved. From a social policy perspective, it is simply cheaper to have people remain in their own homes, and so there is general agreement that it is a “win-win” deal if people do remain in their residences, and they like it.

But how much do they actually like it, and why? New Zealand researchers set out to explore people’s experiences with aging in place. Over a hundred participants ages 56 to 92 were brought together in small focus groups and in interviews to discuss the ideal place to grow older. As they found, there were widely shared feelings that staying in place is desirable because of the sense of attachment and connection one has established with it. There is a feeling of security that is related to being familiar to others outside one’s home. People feel that they are known and have value to others, which is highly important in maintaining one’s sense of identity. There are also warm and caring relations that are maintained by staying in one’s place. In addition, people know how to act independently when they are familiar with the surrounding setting. They know where the bank, drug store, grocery store, and medical offices are. They believe the police will come quickly if they are in trouble. This sense of rootedness reduces anxiety and allows for habits developed over decades to persist.

This did not mean that residential institutions were necessarily bad. If they could provide safe and socially vibrant communities they could be desirable. There was a general sense that some day they might have to move, but wished to avoid being forced to go before they wished to do so.

The Audacity of Age
What a nice ring the headline above has. It was taken from an article in the Style section of the New York Times, focusing on the place of older women in the normally unfriendly world of fashion. The article describes the photographic work of Ari Seth Cohen, who at 30 has become fascinated with the stylish older woman. As Cohen says: “They don’t have a job; they don’t have to impress their bosses, their children, their lovers. They have no one to please but themselves.” This view is central to the book and documentary Advanced Style, created by Cohen.
Cohen is not alone in his observations. In a recent newsletter, editors of the Alliance for Aging Research featured an article, “Fashion Savvy Seniors Help Redefine Old Age.” They suggest that “Many (seniors) are living outside of the boxes that society has traditionally put them in.” And in a new blog on the Huffington Post, Robin Bobbe, says, “This is what 60 looks like.” She would like the advertising world to stop ignoring the beauty of older people. Given the shifting demographics, it won’t be long.

From The Audacity of Age by Ruth La Ferla, New York Times, June 17, 2012, Style, pg. 4. Mediation for Meaning and Belonging
Increasing numbers of people are finding meditation practices helpful in moving through life with more joy and less agony. Author Lewis Richmond, a Zen Buddhist priest and meditation teacher, has addressed issues of aging in his research, workshops, and books. His recent book, Aging as a Spiritual Practice, discusses a variety of useful meditation practices. Richmond believes that in order to live a good life, one must have a sense of belonging with others and a sense of meaning in one’s life. In his workshops he helps people to get in touch with the emotional and spiritual dimensions of aging. One of his meditation practices, for example, is called “Vertical Time.” Here one is asked to suspend the usual way of thinking about one’s life across the horizontal dimension of time, linking past events with the present. Rather, one quietly begins to focus on one’s breathing, and then moves upward to a state of inter-being, in which one begins to realize one’s connection as a living creature with all other forms of life. Another exercise focuses on gratitude. One quietly and continuously ponders the phrase, “thank you.” This act encourages images and thoughts about all the things for which we can be grateful. The half emptied cup now becomes filled.

From: Meaning and belonging can stave off isolation in later life by Lewis Richmond, Aging Today, May-June, 2012, 9.

Free Fun
We thought it might be useful to pass on some tips from the AARP Bulletin on having some fun times that don’t cost a fortune? Here are some suggestions from people who have done just that.

1. Join a meet-up group, which means people who get together at a certain time and place to do something, but no one is keeping track of who comes and who doesn’t. These include groups for tennis, ballroom dancing, bridge, book clubs, and local park activities. Check one in your area out at meetup.com
2. Volunteer at a sporting event, festival, theater, museum or convention and get in on the fun of it free of charge.
3. Visit a local museum, zoo, or garden on select days when admission is free.
4. Check out the plays, concerts and sporting events at your local schools. They are free or low-cost, and easy to get to.
5. Keep an eye out for special “senior” discount days at all events of interest.

Ellen and I are delighted to announce the publication of our new edited book, which details the personal life stories of 22 women, academics and therapists, who are in the process of retiring from their careers or who have already done so. We include a rich range of stories about the challenges, discoveries, joys, disappointments and resolutions to such complex problems as whether to live alone or together with a partner, whether or not to embark on a new form of life, whether to move, and so on. Although the women have all been academic psychologists, their stories are relevant to anyone moving toward or through the phase of life we call retirement. The authors are also a varied lot, from their 50’s to their 80’s, diverse in race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and health, but their storehouse of wisdom about this portion of the lifespan is vast.

People teaching courses in life span development, gerontology, aging, and counseling, as well as all of us planning for retirement or having done so will find riches to reflect upon. To order a “real” book or an “e” book, go to www.TaosInstitute.net

Looking for speakers? Take a look at a speaking bureau exclusively listing speakers who specialize in aging, "Next Age Speakers," a nonprofit group that charges no commissions.
Visit them at: http://www.nextagespeakers.com

Website: http://www.creativeaging.org The National Center for Creative Aging (NCCA) was founded in 2001 and is dedicated to fostering an understanding of the vital relationship between creative expression and healthy aging and to developing programs that build on this understanding. Based in Washington, DC, NCCA is a non-profit organization with 2,500 members and is affiliated with The George Washington University.

August 17-19: "Celebrate Seventy! How Women Flourish in the Eighth Decade." To read about it, go to Esalen.org and type in Celebrate Seventy! Or go to: http://webapp.esalen.org/workshops/11364. With 10 hours of CE credits for nurses, MFT's, and LCSW's.Sept. 26-28: Ageing and Spirituality: Linking the Generations. Canberra, Australia. Conference focuses on baby boomer and intergenerational aging addressing themes of positive aging, palliative care and the lived experience of dementia and mental illness. For more information, please visit: http://www.centreforageing.org.auOctober 9-12, 2012: The 19th International Congress on Palliative Care, Palais des Congrès in Montréal, Canada. This biennial Congress has grown to become one of the premier international events in palliative care. Deadline for Poster Submissions: May 31, 2012. www.palliativecare.ca/pdf/Pal_PrelEng2012.pdf to view the Preliminary Programme. November 14-18, 2012: Gerontological Society of America 65th Annual Scientific Meeting, San Diego Convention Center, CA. Registration now open.

Who Laughs, Lasts
We were recently struck by a line from the poet W.H. Auden, "Among those I like or admire, I can find no common denominator, but among those I love, I can: all of them make me laugh." For us this underscored the central importance of laughter in our lives, and in our relationships. Researchers have long touted the contribution of laughter to our physical and psychological well-being. As amply demonstrated, laughter improves respiration, lowers blood pressure, relaxes the muscles, improves brain functioning, and reduces pain. Many believe it also strengthens the immune system. And in laughing, tensions and anxieties are reduced, anger dissipates, and our disposition improves.

However, with Auden, we also see laughter as playing a central role in relationships themselves. We don’t feel that laugher is essential to love, but we do find ourselves drawn to those with whom we laugh. To laugh together is first, a sign of trust. To laugh with a person’s antics, is to support his or her parting with common convention. Laughing together is also a form of mutual play, one that allows us to reveal fuller personalities – as children, comedians, buffoons, pranksters, and the like. We have often found our way out of a brewing disagreement with a humorous aside.

Finally, we have written a great deal in this newsletter about the capacity to see events from many perspectives. While “growing old” is a drag; to see it as “growing wise” is a gift. Humor is a pivotal means of “seeing anew.” Humor is an escape from the prison of realism. The difference between a stumbling block and a stepping-stone may be a ready quip.

Ken and Mary Gergen

RESEARCH

Social Bridging: High Scores for Women
Much research on social networks has championed the idea that having a close kin-friendship network is vital to a happy and active life as one ages. This is undoubtedly the case. However, such close ties also have their drawbacks; for example, in such networks there are strongly held norms, a resistance to outside ideas, and pressures to conform to the group’s expectations. To be lodged in a tight little group may foster rigidity and bring threats of boredom. The creative juices flow when there is challenge of new ideas, alternative ways of seeing the world, or new vistas are opened.

Benjamin Cornwell, a sociologist interested in social networks, has developed a way to measure the extent to which one is lodged within a single group, as opposed to participating in multiple groups. A person who is high in social “bridging” participates in multiple clusters of people. An individual who was a member of a family, and participated in a job, a religious group, a social club, a book club, and a friendship group in another state, for example, would be high in bridging capacity, in contrast to someone who participated in only one or two groups.

From a national sample of 3,000 older adults, Cornwell used a statistical analysis to compare older men’s and women’s bridging potential. There was reason to believe that women, being more family centered, might be lower in bridging than men. On the other hand, it has traditionally been the case that women are more engaged in the network of family and friends than their husbands. As the results of this study indicated, the latter view of the woman as more fully networked, is supported. Older women had richer and more varied social networks - more bridging options - than older men. Bridging capacities may be especially important when there is a death of a spouse. Such results suggest that men who have retired should not rest on their relational history, but should expand their social networks. The richness of life may depend on it.

From: Independence through Social Networks: Bridging Potential Among Older Women and Men by B. Cornwell, Journal of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 2011, 66B, 782-793.

Appearance and Age
A prevalent stereotype of the aging is that people cease to care how they look. Since they are no longer interested in keeping up appearances, their clothing becomes dull and unkempt. Research by Doris Francis, a cultural anthropologist, destroys that stereotype. Francis studied the rituals of dress among 25 older women living in Santa Fe. She chose a group of women who had the financial resources to freely select how they wished to dress, and studied how these women dealt with their aging bodies in terms of clothing, shoes, make-up, and hair styling. For all the women she interviewed, comfort was the most important attribute of their daily choice of clothing. (No more binding clothes and pinching shoes.) Physical comfort was quite easy to establish; psychological comfort was more difficult to ascertain and to achieve.

Francis divided the women’s fashion styles into three groups. The Creative-Innovative group was characterized as seeking to wear interesting, colorful, eye-catching clothes and accessories. One might wish to be unique in one’s style, but at the same time fit into a group. A desire of these women was to not become invisible, which can be an issue for older women. Another group, Minimalist-Uniform, had narrowed down their choices of clothing to a few basic colors, especially black. Their ritual of dress is to appear consistent over time, to be uniform in a uniform. Often these women had found a “look” that they felt expressed their identity most clearly, and they stuck to it. The Easy-Casual style group tended to wear jeans and a t-shirt and to resist being pegged by their age. In fact, their appearance is similar to many younger people.

Francis concluded that older women do not lose interest in their appearance. Clothes create a visual image of the body about which they remain conscious. Women are ambivalent about their bodies and both accept their physical changes and resist them. Women’s rituals of dress demonstrate the two tasks of older years, to re-create and reaffirm identity and to accept the inevitability of biological aging. We applaud these words from Francis, “… old age can be a rich time for women as their positive performance of fashion challenges, resists, and rises above their stigmatized position of invisibility to create new images of positive aging.” These women demonstrate the way rituals of dress can be part of an on-going process of self-realization. As with other studies in this special issue of the journal on rituals, Francis concludes that “repetitive daily rituals of body and dress engender feelings of control, security, and individuation.”

From: Daily Rituals of Dress: Women Re-Creating Themselves Over Time by Doris Francis, Generations,_Journal of the American Society on Aging, Fall, 2011, 64-70.
Benefits of Not Feeling Your Age
What age do you feel you are? What answer would you give to this question? Is it the same as your chronological age? Is it five years younger? Is it ten years younger? Or is it possibly older than your calendar age? For most people who are in their 70’s, the average age given is 15 years younger than the chronological one. The typical 75 year old person, then, will say that they feel 60. At 25 years of age, most people answer 25, but the gap widens over time. It is not clear why this difference occurs, but as broad ranging research indicates, people who do feel younger than their years feel healthier and even live longer. (Of course, their good health may also contribute to their feeling younger.) This study compared people living in the U. S. and in The Netherlands, both on their feelings of their age, and their self-esteem. Psychology students in both countries interviewed people they knew, between the ages of 40 and 85, about these issues. The researchers were curious about possible similarities and differences between the two samples. As reasoned, the U.S. is more individualistic, where the Netherlands emphasizes general welfare.

As the results showed, there were striking similarities in the countries: in both cases the gap between chronological age and the age one feels, widens as one grows older. Further, in both countries the greater the gap, the higher one's self-esteem. However, in the U.S this relationship proved to be much stronger. Feeling that you are younger than your age is closely related to feeling good about yourself. This is much less the case in the Netherlands. Possibly in the latter case, people are less concerned about being judged by virtue of their age. The bottom line is that feeling as if one is 10 or 15 years younger than the birthday calendar says, is not a strange or pathological quirk. It is not only normal; it is a sign of positive aging. From: The Aging Self in a Cultural Context: The Relation of Conceptions of Aging to Identity Processes and Self-esteem in the United State and The Netherlands by Gerben J. Westerhof, Susan K. Whitbourne, & Gillian P. Freeman. The Journals of Gerontology, Series B. Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 2012, 67, 52-60.

Entrepreneurship: Territory for the Over 60s
When we think of an entrepreneur, don’t we imagine some brilliant college drop-out, creating the next technological invention in somebody’s garage? Images of Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, and Bill Gates come to mind. Yet, in contrast to this stereotype, the fact is that entrepreneurship is primarily the territory of the older generations. The Missouri based Kauffman Foundation, which compiles an annual index of Entrepreneurial Activity, discovered that people between 55-65 have started new businesses at a higher rate than any other age group, including the 20 year olds. Another survey by Boston College’s Sloan Center on Aging & Work found that 12% of all small business owners were over 60. Add in self-employed independents, and the total becomes 38%, far beyond that of other age groups.

A recent survey by Civic Ventures found that in the 45-70 age group, 25% expressed an interest in entrepreneurship. These people were called “Encore Entrepreneurs”. About half of these people said they wanted to create a non-profit that would address some pressing social issue. Thus, the spirit to create a new enterprise was not simply to earn more money, although that certainly is a motivating factor for many entrepreneurs. Older people are blessed with many advantages when it comes to starting a new enterprise. They have a broader range of skills and experiences, better judgment, more personal resources, more robust networks, and often fewer distractions.

Jeff Williams, founder of Bizstarters.com, which helps people start a new business, helps to allay fears of starting something up. “People don’t realize that many small businesses can now be started for about $5,000, and run on less than $300 a month. That reduces the risk that most people associate with business start-ups, and makes it a much more attractive option....Not everyone will hire you after age 50, but they’ll buy from you,”

From: Over-60 Entrepreneurship is Redefining Work by Doug Dickson, Aging Today, Newsletter of the American Society on Aging, March-April, 2012, pg. 11,14.

Retiring from Retiring: Bill Moyers
Bill Moyers, a well-known television talk show host, retired from his active career in journalism on his 70th birthday, ten years after open heart surgery. His retirement lasted one year. He retired again at 76, and that retirement also lasted one year. Currently he is working with his partner and wife, Judith, on Moyers & Company, a television series that will end in time for his 80th birthday. After that, he is not certain, but he is envisioning fulfilling a long held goal of doing a series on aging, and that may be his next post-retirement series, assuming he takes a break at 80. As Moyers says, “We’re fascinated by what science and experience are discovering about how to maintain high mental and physical ability as we grow older; how to reduce the risk of disease and disability; why attitude matters; and the importance of wonder, surprise and joy. “ We couldn’t agree more!

Taped to Moyer’s computer are the apt words of Tennyson, from his poem, “Ulysses,” which possibly sums up his views on life and aging:

From Janis Bohan:
I thought your readers might be interested in another sort of approach to "positive aging." For a while now, I've been writing a blog, "Retirement in the Mix," that explores the variety of things that retirement can entail -- volunteer work, leisure, continuing professional activities, family and friends, recreation and fitness, the happenstances of a day, the meanings we extract from everyday experiences ... and on and on. Since I get to write this blog, it reflects my own interests, from wasps nests and a winter weekend at the Oregon coast through the lessons of volunteer gigs and psychology's role in eugenics to the remarkable pace of the movement for LGBTQ rights, often with a bit of humor thrown in.

If you or your readers would like to check it out, it's at retirementinthemix.blogspot.com

Readers (and comments) welcome!

A Note from Diana Meinhold:
I am a professional fiduciary. My clients are 75-91 years of age. Life indeed becomes quite serious for these individuals (and for me) because physical and/or mental issues and financial concerns often dictate a daily regimen of doctors' appointments and fiscal uncertainty.

However, what I have started with my clients is "Friday Funday." Since many doctors don't even have office hours on Fridays or quit by noon, I don't schedule appointments for my clients on Fridays. Instead we reserve that day for something that each client finds enjoyable--manicures, pedicures, walks at the beach, a favorite restaurant outing, a friendly visit or visitor, listening to Big Band or sacred music. So now my clients know they always have something "fun" to look forward to at the end of the week--that makes the needle sticks, the stethoscopes, dental whirring all somehow more tolerable and non-intrusive in their lives.

Now, if only yours truly could figure out how to enforce "Funday" for myself, all would be right with the world.

From the “Spirit” Newsletter, April, 2012, by Nancy Gordon, Director of California Lutheran Homes Center for Spirituality and Aging.

October 9-12, 2012: The 19th International Congress on Palliative Care, Palais des Congrès in Montréal, Canada. This biennial Congress has grown to become one of the premier international events in palliative care. Deadline for Poster Submissions: May 31, 2012.
www.palliativecare.ca/pdf/Pal_PrelEng2012.pdf to view the Preliminary Programme.

Questions & Feedback
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]]>http://www.taosinstitute.net/2012-march-april2012 January / Februaryhttp://www.taosinstitute.net/2012-january-februaryMon, 14 May 2012 05:00:00 GMTContent DeveloperPDF version of the 2012 Jan/Feb Positive Aging Newsletter to download: Issue 72 Jan/Feb 2012 THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER January/February, 2012 The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen, dedicated to productive dialogue between research and practice. Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net). “THE BEST IN…INSIGHTS IN AGING” - Wall Street Journal Issue No 72 In this Issue: COMMENTARY: Enriching the Present Through the Past RESEARCH: Personality Change and Health Ove...]]>PDF version of the 2012 Jan/Feb Positive Aging Newsletter to download: Issue 72 Jan/Feb 2012 THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER January/February, 2012 The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen, dedicated to productive dialogue between research and practice. Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net). “THE BEST IN…INSIGHTS IN AGING” - Wall Street Journal Issue No 72 In this Issue: COMMENTARY: Enriching the Present Through the Past RESEARCH: Personality Change and Health Ove...PDF version of the 2012 Jan/Feb Positive Aging Newsletter to download: Issue 72 Jan/Feb 2012

THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER

January/February, 2012

The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen, dedicated to productive dialogue between research and practice.
Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net).

It is well recognized that memory is selective. We recall certain events as if they were yesterday; others slip into the dark. This is no small matter as we grow older. What if those memories that could enrich our daily lives, give us vitality, and cheer us on are among those that drop away? In our view, we do have some choice about this. We can actively contribute to the process of selecting memories. And we can do so in ways that sustain those that are life-giving. This fact was made so very clear to us this past December. Among the Christmas cards was a special letter. It was not the kind of report card letter that lets you know that everyone in the family earned an A+. Rather, Jane and Jon took a careful and caring look at specific events in the year. Each described, for example, an event that was most exciting, another that was most gratifying, another that was most disappointing. And they each shared their favorite film, most enjoyable musical experience, moment of greatest beauty, and much more. We both enjoyed and were fascinated by their revelations. However, as we talked about the letter, we fell into unsettling reflection. How would we answer the questions that Jane and Jon had posed for themselves? Yes, here and there a candidate memory came to mind. However, all too often, and all too disappointingly, there was often a blur. What were all the movies we had seen, when were those moments of special beauty, or the exciting events early in the last year? Tough questions, and a fear that much had been lost from recounting. The fact that Jane and Jon did manage to keep so much of the past in their working present led us to consider the various ways in which we can successfully select. Most obviously, photographs have served this function, but as photographic prints have become increasingly rare, so it seems has “showing and telling.” And indeed, a great scholarly literature on “communal memory” suggests that one of the most important means of keeping the past vivid and vitalizing is through dialogue. Those rollicking occasions when we trade tales of the past with family or friends are more than just fun. They knit past and present together, and weave the mix into our relational world. And with the disappearance of writing letters – another primary means giving shape to the past – social interchange becomes all the more important. In a sense, our relationships and our mental world are fused. The two of us have experimented with this process, and particularly after various journeys. We fear that the high points will be buried in the avalanche of demands to confront us on return. So, we spend time on the return trip reviewing what happened during the trip that was special, rewarding, or appreciated. Not only do we hope this will make these memories durable, but that the less than wonderful stuff will move into the dark. Now, stimulated by Jane and Jon, the two of us have generated a joint computer file in which we can make entries whenever we are struck by an experience worth savoring. Now our relationship and mental worlds are fused as well with our computers! In December we shall test the effects. We would be very pleased if our readers would send to Mary (gv4@psu.edu) some of their own ways of helping the past to remain a lively companion. Ken and Mary Gergen

Personality Change and Health Over the Years
Traditional research on personality traits has assumed that such traits are stable over the life course. Thus, if one were neurotic as a young person, one would remain nervous and “stressed out” over the life span. Or if one were disorganized, sloppy, and undisciplined in their 30’s, they would remain the perpetual slob. The five personality traits centering this tradition are extraversion (outgoingness), neuroticism, conscientiousness (the anti-slob-factor), agreeableness, and openness to experience. However, recent thinking and research challenges this tradition. The interest here is in the possibility that these traits are dynamic, not static, and can change, albeit slowly, over the life course. This new line of thinking has important implications for aging, and especially for issues of health and longevity. In previous newsletters we have often reported on research linking personality traits with health. Such research suggested, for example, that conscientiousness, in particular, is positively related to both health and longevity, while neuroticism will have negative consequences. And, if you happen to be low in conscientiousness and high in neuroticism, you might consider yourself as more or less "doomed." The current thinking gives reason for optimism: we can change our personalities! In this major study, over 7,000 non-institutionalized U. S. residents between 25-74 were studied over a ten year period. Scores on these personality traits were correlated with three health measures: self-rated health; self-reported blood pressure, and number of days limited at work or home due to physical health reasons. Across all three measures higher levels of conscientiousness predicted better health outcomes; higher levels of neuroticism predicted poorer outcomes. Higher levels of extraversion predicted better self-rated health and fewer health-related work reductions. Higher levels of openness predicted fewer work-related missed days. Higher levels of agreeableness (the “nice” factor) predicted poorer health outcomes. In addition, however, the study also provided evidence that long term change in these personality indicators was also related to physical health. Many people did improve in the positive personality traits, (conscientiousness and extraversion) and consequently they also rated themselves as having better health. This relationship leads to questions related to change itself. Why do people change over time? Who changes over time? How might individuals learn to lessen their anxiety, for example, or become more socially outgoing, as they age? How can people be encouraged to be more caring of their physical health and less likely to do harmful things to themselves? Interestingly, how might some people benefit from learning to be a bit less “nice”? It seems that being too agreeable has some costs as well as benefits. This research opens up many challenging and important questions. From: Personality Trait Level and Change as Predictors of Health Outcomes: Findings from a National Study of Americans by Nicholas A. Turiano, Lindsay Pitzer, Cherie Armour, Arun Karlamangia, Carol D. Tyff, & Daniel K. Mroczek, The Journals of Gerontology, Series B, Psychological Sciences, 2012, 67B, 4-12.

How Old Do You Feel You Are?
What answer would you give to this question? Is it the same as your chronological age? Is it five years younger? Is it ten years younger? Or is it possibly older than your calendar age? For most people who are in their 70’s, the average age given is 15 years younger than the chronological one. For a typical 75 year old, the answer is 60. At 25, most people answer 25, but the gap widens over time. It is not clear why this difference occurs, but as broad ranging research indicates, people who do feel younger than their years feel healthier and even live longer. (Of course, their good health may also contribute to their feeling younger.) This study compared people living in the U. S. and in The Netherlands, both on their feelings of their age, and their self-esteem. Psychology students in both countries interviewed people they knew, between the ages of 40 and 85, about these issues. The researchers were curious about what differences would be found between the two samples, based on the differences in the welfare systems in each nation. The U. S., classified as a liberal country, demands more individual decision-making on the part of its citizens with regard to retirement and savings for this period of life. In The Netherlands, a social-democracy, the age of retirement is fixed at 65, and the financial security of older people is guaranteed by the state. As the results showed, in both cultures the gap between chronological age and the age one feels, widens as one grows older. Further, the greater the gap, the higher one's self-esteem. However, there was a stronger relationship between the self-enhancing functions of a youthful age identity in the U. S. - where being “young” helps one thrive in a competitive, capitalist system - than in The Netherlands. The researchers suggest that being youthful is related to the type of welfare system each country has and the clear-cut designation of “retiree” in The Netherlands. For the Dutch, it is difficult to lie about one’s age, even to oneself. If we in American feel as if we are 10 or 15 years younger than the birthday calendar says, it is not a strange or pathological quirk. It is not only normal, it is a sign of positive aging. From: The Aging Self in a Cultural Context: The Relation of Conceptions of Aging to Identity Processes and Self-esteem in the United State and The Netherlands by Gerben J. Westerhof, Susan K. Whitbourne, & Gillian P. Freeman. The Journals of Gerontology, Series B. Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 2012, 67, 52-60.

Making Retirement a Creative Event
A commentary by Ryan Fehr in a recent issue of the American Psychologist challenges the contention that retirement is necessarily a stressful life transition that requires various resources to overcome the associated anxiety. Dr. Fehr suggests that retirement can also be an energizing and fulfilling experience. He points out that people who tend to live creatively may well find retiring an exhilarating adventure. Past research indicates that people who prefer novelty, who have wide experience in the world, and who are pretty confident that they can cope with new experiences will tend to switch tasks, jobs, and careers with relative frequency and ease over the life-span. Various studies from organizational psychology indicate that people who score high on the personality trait of “Openness to Experience” are more likely to change jobs. The implications for retirement are that, provided people can draw from their creative resources, retirement can provide opportunities to enhance their lives and enrich meaning; it may enable one to embrace new, energizing life roles. Fehr suggests that leaders in the workplace can provide mentorship in this regard. “Organizations can actively shift prevailing attitudes toward retirement, replacing negative frames of stress and loss with more positive frames that emphasize gain, excitement, and self-actualization.” (pg.77). From: Is Retirement always Stressful? The Potential Impact of Creativity by Ryan Fehr. American Psychologist, January, 2012, 76-77.

Baby Boomers: “Us, aging? Who says?”
For the tenth year, the adult housing development corporation Del Webb has published the results of their survey of people, 50 plus in years. Most interesting were the results from the responses of "the baby boomers," those born between 1946 and 1964. This population tends to regard itself as physically and mentally fit, and “age” as a mere number. Their attitudes are different from previous generations, who were more likely to accept that life would be different and difficult for them, now that they were of “a certain age.” When asked why they feel younger than their chronological age, their general responses had to do with being healthy, being happy, and having a sense of humor about it all. Some of the major findings from the study:
• Participants said that old age begins at 80.
• Over 50% exercise, and the majority feel they are in better shape now than when they were younger.
• Over 70% say they will continue working in some capacity post-retirement.
• They see the secret to aging successfully is having new hobbies and multiple interests.

Is there a down-side? Yes, in the sense that the younger boomers say they will need more money than the older ones said they needed. From: Baby Boomers: “Us, aging? Who says?” Philadelphia Inquirer, Jan. 19, 2012, R7.

Wisdom from Aaron Beck at 90
One of the most well-known psychologists in the world is Aaron Beck. His most important legacy has been formulating a theory of cognitive therapy and helping to promote its use throughout the world. He has recently celebrated his 90th birthday, and is now focusing his attention on helping people diagnosed with schizophrenia. Rarely has there been much success in treating those suffering from schizophrenia with any form of “talk” therapy. Beck is publishing a paper that summarizes the effects of cognitive therapy on a group of patients. As a result of the therapy, these people have improved their capacities to function in the world and to reduce the delusions that often hinder their lives. This therapy is based on the notion that how we think influenced how we feel. Good thoughts lead to good feelings, and the reverse is also true. Asked how he avoids negativity in his thinking, he said, “I try to keep things in perspective. I don’t get as ruffled as I might because I ask myself: Is it fatal? Is it the end of the world?” Although he has some limiting infirmities, he rises at 6 each morning and warms up his body with stretching and balancing exercises. Later in the day he rides a stationery bike for 30 minutes. In the evenings he often watches movies with his wife, Phyllis, a retired judge. They have an active social life with a lively circle of friends. Beck enjoys his iPad and iPhone and loves a video game called Angry Birds. Reading and listening to books on tape are favorite activities.
Asked about his tips for others as to living a long and happy life, he offered these comments:
• Keep things in perspective.
• Try to turn disadvantages into advantages.
• Don’t let work get in the way of relationships.

As for his birthday, and the possibility of retiring, “It’s not a concept that crosses my mind because I’m happy with what I am doing and there’s no need to retire.” “90 is the new 70.” From: Professor Beck at 90: Not the Retiring Type by Art Carney. Philadelphia Inquirer, August 8, 2011, B 03.

Betty White: Facing Age with a Saucy Wink
Celebrating her 89th birthday last January, Betty White is having what in her eyes is the career of a lifetime. She currently stars in “Hot in Cleveland” a tv hit, now in its third season. She has a new book, “If you ask me (and of course you won’t)” and another upcoming. When asked about her recent popularity, Ms. White seems baffled, but others who work with her have their own ideas. She is a workaholic, they say, and she replies, “I’ve long since given up trying to get over that.” She is very independent, and takes care of herself without much help. Her co-star, Wendie Malick, describes her as “truly a Midwestern…who was taught to take care of herself, show up on time, and do it with the best attitude.” Although she has had no children, her maternal love has been spent on countless animals who have been in her life, including the ones in the zoo. Despite all her special connections with others, she misses having someone to hold. The “love of her life”, third husband, Allen Ludden, died in 1981, and she has not had a fourth. “Animal lover that I am,” she wrote, “a cougar I am not.” From: Facing Age with a Saucy Wink by Frank Bruni, NYTimes, May 1, 2011, Arts & Leisure, 1, 11.

Geriatric Care by Design: A Clinician’s Handbook to Meet the Needs of Older Adults Through Environmental and Practice Redesign edited by Audrey Chun, MD, with Joann G. Schwartzberg, MD and Cheryl Irmiter, PhD. The American Medical Association was kind enough to send us a copy of their handbook, designed primarily for physicians in order to improve their practices. However the book could be a valuable asset for any organization that has a client base of older people, including educational institutions, governmental agencies, and businesses of all types. Further, there are many ideas that could be used by both the elderly themselves, or family members with whom they live. One important section of the book discusses how to make offices and buildings easier, safer, and more convenient and comfortable for older patients to use. Discussions focus on such problems as uneven walking surfaces, high curbs, low light levels, unsafe stairs, inaccessible furniture, low glass tables, and background noise, and how to improve these features of the physical environment. Design features such as lighting, colors, color contrasts, and patterns are all described, along with suggestions for helping to make spaces more useable and comfortable. Various chapters present case studies indicating how various facilities were redesigned to facilitate the work of the staff and the comfort of the patients. Besides the actual physical changes in the facility, attention is given to improving communication among staff and patients, improving forms, dealing with transportation issues, the coordination of care, and the role of the family caregiver. Health literacy and patient self-management are also included. A final chapter deals with culturally effective care and health disparity. For a short time, the hard copy is available for those who would like to use it for educational purposes at generitriccarebydesign@ama-assn.org It is also sold as an ebook.

Terra Nova Films, premier provider of films on aging, has some outstanding films and DVDs of interest:

• "Positive Images of Aging" (14 video segments, each 3-5 minutes in length)
• "No Age Limit: Creativity and Aging" (includes a section on Gene Cohen and his work)
• "Grow Old Along with Me: The Poetry of Aging"
• "I remember Better When I Paint" (Treating Alzheimer's through the Creative Arts).
• "Art Collection: Exploration of People with Dementia Expressing Themselves Creatively"

With pleasure, we share an invitation to our readers from Mark Freedman, CEO of Civic Ventures:
Dear Mary,
Retirements that promise 30 or 40 years of leisure are no longer sustainable – for individuals or society. Instead, it’s time we recognize that people in their 50s, 60s and 70s are in a new stage of life and work, an encore stage that provides the chance to make a real difference in the world. I see signs that the encore stage is starting to catch on. The New York Times ran an article entitled “Teaching as a Second, or Even Third, Career,” which cites our work with community colleges. Brad Jupp, a senior program aide to Education Secretary Arne Duncan, says: “There is an incredible opportunity here for those who are pursuing encore careers.” ABC News cited Purpose Prize winner Wilma Melville as its Person-of-the-Week on Friday. After retiring from teaching, Melville launched an encore career training rescue dogs to rescue disaster victims. And Washington University in St. Louis made news by conducting a survey of MSW students over 40 to determine if they got what they came for – mainly, an encore career in social work. “We found that people came, they did well, they went out and accomplished their plans,” says professor Nancy Morrow-Howell. “They got into the careers they wanted and they looked very favorably at their experience.” One final reason to celebrate: Tens of thousands more children in urban elementary schools will soon get the benefit of tutors and mentors in search of an encore. This past week, AARP and Experience Corps announced that they are joining forces. Let us know when you see signs that the encore stage of life and work is taking hold. Write us at info@encore.org.
All best,
Marc Freedman
Founder and CEO, Civic Ventures Author, The Big Shift: Navigating the New Stage Beyond Midlife

Judith Zausner writes:
Thank you for mentioning my 2 Creativity Matters blog articles on new age communities. I have recently published 2 articles on age friendly cities which is an interesting local as well as global initiative. It holds critical importance to all of us. Here are the links:

Stefanie Weiss writes:
Dear Mary,
If you’re wondering how to figure out what’s next in your life, take three minutes and watch this clip from Emmy-award winning journalist Jane Pauley. http://youtu.be/Q1_k0-zHJvQ I love the way she explains her own encore career as host of “Your Life Calling” on NBC’s TODAY Show, then zeroes in on the myth of reinvention, suggests the best way to get started on your encore, and summarizes the potential for a growing encore movement for the greater good.
All best,
Stef Stefanie Weiss Vice President for Communications
Civic Ventures, Encore.org

We share an excerpt from Krishna Gautam's letter from Nepal:
Dear Mary Gergen,
Thank you for the Positive Aging Newsletter. It was wonderful to see different sets of people in different parts of the world doing similar things for similar reason. Once more a realization that the god created us all equal, rather, the same.
This was the first time that I got opportunity (for our own doing we have made the time so scarce a resource for ourselves, though the god gave us plenty !) to read the whole text of November/December, 2011 issue and feel proud of having done so. Wonderful work, more so for its intentions - wishing people good healthy life, only mothers do for their children….
Best Regards
Krishna M. Gautam
Founder Chairperson
Our portal: ageingpost.com

Howard writes:
Hi Mary,
Marika and I have now banned our iPhones from the dinner table, and from tea breaks. We are talking to each other again!

Second, 2young2retire is now owned and run by Paul Ward. He can be reached at paul@2young2retire.com . We are now on to our next encore careers. Marika expanding yoga teaching classes, and I’m entertaining elders at assisting living and geriatric centers here in South Florida.
Warm regards,
Howard

October 9-12, 2012: The 19th International Congress on Palliative Care, Palais des Congrès in Montréal, Canada. This biennial Congress has grown to become one of the premier international events in palliative care. Deadline for Poster Submissions: May 31, 2012. www.palliativecare.ca/pdf/Pal_PrelEng2012.pdf to view the Preliminary Programme.

Positive Aging: Renewing the Vision
As the new year begins it may be helpful to many readers to review again the central mission of this newsletter. This should let you know of what you may anticipate and how you may participate as readers. Since its inception some nine years ago, the readership of the newsletter has expanded at a rapid rate - now reaching thousands of subscribers in five languages. Our readers include gerontologists, health related researchers, therapeutic practitioners, service providers for the elderly, and interested laypersons. Many new readers of the newsletter may be curious about the orientation guiding the selection of content.Our primary aim is to bring to light resources - from research, professional practices, and daily life - that contribute to an appreciation of the aging process. Challenging the longstanding view of aging as decline, we strive to create a vision of life in which aging is an unprecedented period of human enrichment. Such a revolution vitally depends on the communities of research and professional practices that focus on adult populations, especially people over 50. It is within these communities that new ideas, insights, factual support, and practices of growth enhancement can congenially emerge. By focusing on the developmental aspects of aging, and the availability of relevant resources, skills, and resiliencies, research not only brings useful insights into the realm of practice, but creates hope and empowers action among older people. By moving beyond practices of repair and prevention to emphasize growth-enhancing activities, practitioners also contribute to the societal reconstruction of aging.

Reader contributions to the Newsletter are most welcome. If you have writings, insights, or practices that you feel would be especially interesting to subscribers of the Newsletter, you are invited to share them in future issues. We also review selected books and films, and carry announcements of relevant conferences and workshops. Please send your suggestions to Mary Gergen at gv4@psu.edu. All past issues of the Newsletter are archived at: www.positiveaging.net
To reintroduce ourselves, Kenneth Gergen is a Senior Research Professor at Swarthmore College, and Mary is a Professor Emerita of Psychology and Women's Studies at Penn State University, Brandywine. Ken and Mary both serve on the Executive Board of the Taos Institute, a non-profit organization working at the intersection of social constructionist theory and societal practice. Each has a long history of engagement with gerontological inquiry and therapeutic practice.

We hope you will join us in the present endeavor,
-Ken and Mary Gergen

This is also a time of year when we count our blessings and look forward to coming opportunities. We are especially grateful for the wonderful people who have volunteered to translate the newsletters this past year. Kudos first to Alain Robiolio, who has been at our side for many years, translating our newsletter into French, as well as helping various books we have written translated into French as well. We are also grateful to Thomas Friedrich-Hett, who with Peter Lausberg, has been so diligently translating our newsletters into German for many years. In Buenos Aires, Argentina, a brother and sister team have been translating our newsletters into Spanish for a long time. Our thanks to Mario Ravazzola and Cristina Ravazzola de Mazieres, for their fine work. Most recently, we have been delighted by the dedication of Su-Fen Liu, who has been translating our newsletters from Taiwan, where she is an assistant professor of management. Last, thanks to Angelica Moretti of Sao Paulo, who volunteered to co-create the newsletter in Portugese.

We are also thrilled to have at our side a new advisory council composed of translators, Thomas Friedrich-Hett. Su-Fen Liu, and Angelica Moretti, as well as the couple who have the longest standing record as Taos Institute participants and supporters, Bob and Sharon Cottor of Phoenix, AZ. We also have on board a host of brilliant and well-known scholars in gerontology: Lorraine Hedtke of Redlands, California; Peter Whitehouse of Cleveland; Bill Randall of Fredericksburg, Nova Scotia; Glenda Fredman, London, UK; and Margaret Stroebe of Utrecht, NL. What a wonderful experience to have these good people working with us on this worthwhile project of the Positive Aging Newsletter. Our heartfelt thanks to all.

Helping Everyday Memory
It is commonly believed that aging brings about memory loss. In some degree this belief may result from the stereotype itself: unlike earlier years in school, for example, we simply attribute any lapse in memory to age. In any case, Gary Small, a UCLA memory researcher, describes the most common experiences of memory loss. Among these are forgetting where you put something, and forgetting names and faces.

Small also believes that there are simple strategies to overcome these challenges. A major strategy for remembering names, faces or lists involves the strategy he calls, Look, Snap, Connect. “Look” reminds one to focus attention on the situation at hand. “Snap” means to take a mental snapshot, or visual image of the object. “Connect” is the act of linking up what you want to remember with the visual image. For example, if you park in a public garage on Level 5, as you leave the car, you “look” by paying attention to where you have parked, you “snap” on the level sign 5, and “link” by finding a way of connecting them (“I got lost when I was five years old.”) The more personal or significant the link, the better. Another useful strategy in remembering a list of things – such as a grocery list or a series of complex directions - is to create a little story to link various things together. For example, if you go to the store to purchase milk, bread, butter, eggs, syrup, and tea, how can you connect them through a little story? What, for example, would you need to cook nice breakfast of French toast for your mate? But be careful not to forget where you parked the car!

From: From Brain Fitness to Mental Wellness as We Age by Gary Small. The 2011 MindAlert lecture. Supplement to Generations, 35, pp. 4-28.

Walking as Tonic for the Soul
Walking has long been recommended as a means of keeping fit over the years. Recent research suggests that health is not the only benefit. Researchers in this case believed that taking walks – especially in “green spaces” - would have a payoff in terms of cognitive functioning such as memory and attention. The latter possibility was especially interesting, as there was some evidence that walking could be an alternative to pharmaceuticals for people diagnosed with ADHD.
To explore these possibilities, researchers arranged for three groups of young adults to take 20 minute walks, either in a park, a neighborhood, or a parking. And this was all on a wintry day. All participants were discouraged from talking. The results defied the researchers: very little in the way of cognitive functioning was observed (a slight improvement in short term memory). Most dramatic, the effect on mood states was significant. Regardless of where they walked, all the groups reported feeling less tense, angry, and depressed. Rather, as a result of the walks they felt more energetic and reported more positive moods. It didn’t seem to matter whether the walk was in a “green” environment, or in the parking lot. Their only problem was in their attempts to avoid conversation. As it appears, after a tense, anxious day, a little walk - seemingly anywhere - can restore the spirits.

Marital Happiness in a Cup of Tea
Researchers from the University of Virginia’s National Marriage Project studied the role of generosity in the marriages of 870 women and men. In this study, generosity was defined as “the virtue of giving good things to one’s spouse freely and abundantly.” In our house, going to the basement to replace a fuse, blown from the overuse of appliances, is a good example. For several of our friends, it means making a cup of tea in the morning and taking it up to bed for their partner.
As the researchers found, those couples who scored highest on the generosity scale were far more likely to report that they were very happy in their marriages. This relationship was particularly strong for people who had children at home. Although parents may have agreements about what their fair share of caretaking is, going beyond one’s duties with regard to family activities is much appreciated. In a related study of 3-year-old twins, Israeli researchers found that children whose parents were generous with them were also more likely to be generous with other kids as well. It is nice to think that acts of generosity spread outward.
Other researchers have also indicated that commitment and good communication styles are important for creating the grounds for a happy marriage. John Gottman, one of the major researchers in this area, has suggested that if one partner makes a negative comment about the other, it must be offset by 5 positive ones for a successful relationship to be sustained. As for sex, if marital sexual satisfaction is rated below average, only 6.5% say they have happy marriages. Is it possible that generosity is a more powerful contributor to a happy marriage than good sex?

From: Is Generosity Better Than Sex? By Tara Parker-Pope, New York Times, Dec. 11, 2011, “Well” pg. 26.
Home Remedies That Work
It is possible that there are cures in your kitchen for what ails you. That’s an assist to positive aging in our view.

Honey: For nighttime coughs, adults and children can take a teaspoon or two of honey. Honey coats the throat and can be used repeatedly. It works better than over-the-counter products.

Tart Cherry Juice: This juice is an anti-inflammatory agent, and can be good for various purposes – joint aches from running or arthritis, and for preventing attacks of gout. Patients who took a tablespoon of tart cherry juice concentrate twice a day for four months cut the frequency of their gout attacks in half.

Ginger: Chewed on in crystal form, fresh, or powdered, it is wonderful in preventing nausea. Various uses include reducing car sickness, nausea from chemotherapy, and after surgery. A large study from the National Cancer Institute found that taking as little as one-quarter of a teaspoon of ginger daily for three days before chemo cuts nausea by 40%.

Menthol Rub: Applying Vicks VapoRub to toenails that have fungus is a safe cost-effective treatment, often better than over-the-counter products. Even better, wipe the affected nails with a cotton ball soaked in white vinegar before applying the Vicks.

Liquid Dish Soap: For those who love to be out in nature, poison ivy or poison oak is a constant danger. If you come into contact, as soon as possible, wash the affected area with dish soap for 25 seconds, and then rinse. The soap should cut the oil and remove it from your skin. It may not do the trick entirely, but it works to greatly reduce inflammation.

Other helpful hints suggest cranberries for helping to reduce bladder infections; witch hazel to help reduce the pain of hemorrhoids, milk of magnesia for canker sores in the mouth, and water gargles to reduce colds, infections, and sore throats. Each of these remedies has research evidence from the medical community to support these claims.

Gloria Steinem at 77: Blithe Spirit and Feminist Icon
Gloria Steinem, one of the most well-known figures from “second wave” feminism, in the 1970’s, is now in her 70’s as well. Still inspirational, she claims that most everything about aging “so far has been a plus.” Steinem finds this time of life especially rich. She is still writing, which was her vocation as a young woman (when she took a job at a Playboy club as a Bunny in order to discover the behind the scenes life that such a job entailed). And she is still speaking, and traveling. The public has never lost interest in the life and times of Gloria, partly because of her outspoken views, which were promoted through her editorship of Ms magazine, and partly because of her beautiful face, with her high cheekbones, and her “Jacqueline Kennedy” style sunglasses.

Talking about her body as it has aged, she said, ‘What happens at 50, more or less, you lose what you need to create another person… you keep what you need to sustain yourself. And there’s something wonderful about that.” Never having had children, which is something she does not regret, she describes her family as the close friends she has - including her old lovers, with whom she has such comfortable relationships now.

In terms of feminism today, she is dispirited by the media efforts to sexualize young girls and to demean women in various TV shows, such as the “Housewives” series. She also thinks more can be done to provide for better child care options so that more men and women can work, have a family and enjoy their lives.

The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation offers a wide range of resources, including videos and a newsletter, all celebrating the positive effects of kindness in everyday life. http://www.randomactsofkindness.org/

Looking for an Artist for your Program? A free, evolving, online, searchable directory is available that lists professional teaching artist in all disciplines who are qualified to work with older adults in a variety of settings. Register online at www.lifetimearts.org to search for artists by location, discipline and language, and then contact the artists directly.

Judith Zausner writes:
Hi Mary, It was wonderful to meet you and Ken at lunch yesterday. . In discussion about NORCS and villages, I mentioned that I wrote about it in my blog, Creativity Matters. The goal of my blog is to inform and inspire by offering a synopsis of relevant content that would be especially interesting to older adults. I hope that you enjoy the links below and I would love for you to be a "Follower"!

I created this website as a way for older singles to explore the online dating scene and have fun while doing it. I am hoping that after you take a look, you'll think its a valuable resource to help more African Americans enjoy the fun of online dating.

Georgie Bright Kunkel writes:
I don’t know whether I have written to you about my latest activities. I, at age 91, [was] the luncheon speaker at the Washington Counseling Association conference in Spokane, WA on October 17th. The next evening I appeared at the Seattle Comedy Underground doing comedy here in Seattle.

You can Google me at West Seattle Herald (a paper that I write a column for) and type in Jay Inslee and see a great picture of me with our next governor. Of course I expect him to be our next governor as he has the blessing of our present governor and is a tried and true politician.

You can also Google my name in the West Seattle Herald website and find all my columns, one of which is about my date with my fellow. I can’t walk a long ways at a big fair so he pushed me in a wheel chair when I got tired at the Puyallup Fair, our biggest fair near Seattle.

Wasn’t that a great wheel chair date?

My date found me by emailing me after reading my column about Senior Dating in which I said that no man could keep up with me. He told me after dating me a few times that he thought he could keep up with me and he has. We each have our problems with aging but we both believe in exercise and keeping one’s spirits high by engaging in physical activity as often as possible.

I am a Rosie the Riveter and have produced a program to give to groups in my area. The Rosies are dying at a rapid rate these days so I plan to offer our program to the local schools so that the high school students and even younger people can experience meeting a real live Rosie before they are all gone.

"The Right to Age: Citizenship, Social Inclusion and Political Participation of Older People" (Jan. 25-27, 2011, Dijon, France). Conference languages are French, English, and Spanish. For details, visit: www.ledroitdevieillir.org

May 30-June 1, 2012: 6th Eden Alternative International Conference. Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids, MI. The Eden Alternative is an international non-profit organization dedicated to transforming care environments into habitats for human beings that promote quality of life for all involved. It is a powerful tool for inspiring well-being for Elders and those who collaborate with them as Care Partners. Their vision is to eliminate loneliness, helplessness, and boredom.

We are sending our newsletter from a new distribution point, and we hope you are able to receive it without difficulty. Please email me, Mary Gergen gv4@psu.edu if you have any trouble opening or reading it.

Questions & Feedback
If you have any questions, or material you'd like to share with other newsletter readers, please e-mail Mary Gergen at gv4@psu.edu

]]>http://www.taosinstitute.net/2011-november-december2011 September/Octoberhttp://www.taosinstitute.net/2011-septemberoctoberMon, 28 Nov 2011 06:00:00 GMTContent DeveloperPDF version to download - Issue 70 2011 September/October Positive Aging Newsletter THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER September/October, 2011 by Kenneth and Mary Gergen, dedicated to productive dialogue between research and practice. Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net). “THE BEST IN…INSIGHTS IN AGING” Wall Street Journal Issue No 70 What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others. ]]>PDF version to download - Issue 70 2011 September/October Positive Aging Newsletter THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER September/October, 2011 by Kenneth and Mary Gergen, dedicated to productive dialogue between research and practice. Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net). “THE BEST IN…INSIGHTS IN AGING” Wall Street Journal Issue No 70 What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others. PDF version to download - Issue 70 2011 September/October Positive Aging Newsletter

THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER

September/October, 2011

by Kenneth and Mary Gergen, dedicated to productive dialogue between research and practice.
Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net).

“THE BEST IN…INSIGHTS IN AGING”
Wall Street Journal

Issue No 70

What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.

The Upside of Failure
We so often hear the expression, “I’m too old to do that.” Each time people say this, they have closed the door on an opportunity that could be expanding, enriching, and enlivening. People restrict themselves when it comes to travel, athletics, education, volunteer activities, cultural events, and more. It even happens when it is about relationships. A friend at a class reunion exclaimed that she was too old to consider a romantic relationship, “not at my age,” she said. For many, aging seems to bring about a sense that the world is riskier. There is the impending sense of fear and failure. I recently read about a series of interviews in which highly successful entrepreneurs were asked to account for their success. Among the most prominent answers was the willingness to take risks, which also lead to the obvious corollary that failing was also crucial to their success. As it was reasoned, one learns from failure, gains new insights, and acquires valuable experience. I started thinking about my family’s opinions of my birthday cake baking skills. My birthday cakes have long been the butt of jokes among our kids. There was the plastic-like chocolate frosting that cracked off in pieces, and the angel food cake that had to be scraped out of the pan, the one the ants found first, and so on. But, interestingly no one failure was repeated! Over the years I have learned a lot about cake baking. Today, I can make a passable birthday cake. Failure provided the means for growth and learning, and along the way, I gave the family a lot of laughs. Had I given up and searched for the nearest bakery, life would have been less rewarding.

So, as the fall season brings about its appointed changes – and we send out the 70th edition of this Newsletter - perhaps it is a good time to consider some new risks. Bronco busting may not be at the top of my list, but the challenges of new technologies, educational opportunities, arts and dance, exotic travel, and political involvement are almost always at hand. My husband, Ken, is asking me to join him in Tango lessons, and pestering me about Bhutan. Now in the midst of this little essay, I will certainly be more attentive to these “opportunities”. I don’t know about the outcomes, but I do know that life will become that much richer for taking a risk or two.

Happy Days in Holland
What makes people happy? Does it have to do with the amount of activity in which people engage? Does it have to do with relaxation? Does it all depend on the type of personality someone has? In this study, 438 retired adults, ages 55-88, living in The Netherlands reviewed their daily activities for two years, jotting down in a diary what they did each day, and how happy they felt. Previous research has shown that certain activities are closely related to good feelings about life, for example, social activities, physical activities such as bicycling, and learning activities, including solving puzzles. Activities that do not typically increase one’s happiness include housework, grocery shopping, doing the bills, and laundry.

In this study, these previous findings were examined, using the happiness recall recorded on a daily basis. In addition these researchers were interested in examining the relationship of restful activities - such as watching TV, napping and rocking on the porch - to more demanding engagements. Previous research showed that activity is generally related to happiness: in general, the “doer” is happier than the couch potato. However, as they reasoned, the constant need for activity causes problems; periodic laziness may be helpful. Does some combination increase feelings of happiness? Another factor that has been shown to be important in studies of happiness is the trait of extraversion. People who have a higher score on this personality measure are more likely to feel happy. This is often explained as the outcome of extraverted people enjoying social activities more than introverted people. For them, engaging in social activities is related to feeling happy about life.

The men (276) and women (162) in the study gave reports on their activities and their feelings of happiness. In addition, the researchers eliminated the effects of anxiety, health, gender, and age, so that these variables would not figure in the results. Once the analysis was completed, the researchers found much support for earlier findings. Spending more time on social, physical and cognitive activities related positively to happiness, and household activities did not. Interestingly, the combination of restful activity after more active engagement was highly correlated with happiness. True to other findings, extraverts enjoyed more social activities than introverts, and evaluated their world more positively.From: Finding the Key to Happy Aging: A Day Reconstruction Study of Happiness by W. G. M. Odrlemans, A. B. Bakker, & R. Veenhoven. The Journal of Gerontology, Series B, 66, 665-674.

Benefits of Arts Participation
Researchers were interested in the effects of intensive training in theater on the cognitive and emotional well-being of older people. Helga and Tony Noice conducted a study in which they gave a group of older adults seven, ninety minute sessions in acting. Each session involved scenes that mimicked real-life situations, and the exercises became increasingly demanding. For most, the experience was deeply engrossing. Control groups, one, a class in visual arts, and another with no classes, were measured for their cognitive abilities and feelings of well-being, along with the acting class. Results indicated that the theater participants improved significantly from pre-test to post-test over the no treatment controls in recall and problem solving. They also improved significantly on assessments of psychological well-being. The theater group also did better than the arts class group on all measures, although both were higher than the other control group in their outcomes. In another study, the team tried out their drama course with at-risk, older adults living in subsidized, low-income housing. Participants here were older and less well-educated than the previous groups; more than half had mobility challenges and used wheelchairs and other aids in order to get around. Here the theater group was compared to a voice training choral group and no training control groups. The results were similar to the previous study. The acting group experienced significant cognitive and affective gains over the other two groups, although both the acting and singing groups had gained in feelings of well-being over the other control group. In explaining why they believe acting classes helped improve the participants’ lives, the researchers stressed the importance of physical activity, developing a sense of mastery and control, having fun, facing mental challenges, and social engagement. Also acting skills could lead to improved life skills. Unfortunately, the summary of these studies did not indicate how many people were involved in each study, but one would assume there were sufficient numbers of them to justify the results. From: Good for the Heart, Good for the Soul: The Creative Arts and Health in Later Life by Michael C. Patterson and Susan Perlstein. Neuroscience of the Aging Brain: Perspectives on Brain Health and Lifestyle. 2011, 35, 27-36.

In the Loop with the Hearing Loop
Our colleague and friend, David G. Myers, a professor of psychology at Hope College in Holland, Michigan, sent us some wonderful news about a technology that allows the partially deaf to hear crystal clear sounds . As David writes, “I used to detest my hearing aids, but now ... I love the way they’ve enriched my life.” Dr. Myers is writing about hearing loops, copper wires radiating electromagnetic signals. When placed around the periphery of a space (large or small) they interact with a tiny device in hearing aids to provide for perfect sound fidelity. Myers first encountered a hearing loop at an abbey in Scotland, where he was shocked to suddenly understand every word of a service. He then discovered that it was a hearing loop that allowed him to have this experience. Later he installed a loop in his own home (for about $250) and successfully campaigned to have loops installed at hundreds of locations in Michigan, including the Grand Rapids airport and the basketball arena at Michigan State University. As he wrote, “One of the beauties of this simple technology is that it serves me everywhere from my office to my home TV room to nearly all the worship places and public auditoriums of my community.” The technology, which has been widely adopted in Northern Europe, has the potential to transform the lives of tens of millions of Americans, according to national advocacy groups. As loops are installed in stores, banks, museums, subway stations and other public spaces, people who have felt excluded are suddenly back in the conversation. For more information check out: www.hearingloop.org

Violinist on Wheels
Philadelphia Orchestra violist, Herold Klein, who is 66, recently finished a bicycle ride called the MS Great 8, an eight-day ride that raises awareness and money for multiple sclerosis. Klein is a recent convert to biking. This sporting activity has been the source of incredible changes in Klein’s life. “It has been my savior, and made me fit to live with,” he has said. Before he became a rider, Klein was totally devoted to music. Between practicing, performing, and doing strenuous administrative duties as chair of the orchestra members committee, he never had time to exercise. He didn’t sleep well, and along with smoking, he drank 20 cups of coffee a day. Over time he became aware that his body was complaining about the lifestyle he had acquired, and he found that the stress he carried daily was damaging his physical health. Eventually, he stopped smoking and cut down on coffee, but his anxiety level remained very high. His doctor prescribed exercise. He put it off for four years, but one day became intrigued with the notion that he might be able to ride a bike. That summer, when the orchestra was performing in Saratoga Springs, NY, he began training. He cycled every day, pushing himself harder and harder. Today he is an expert cyclist, has lost 20 pounds and is a much calmer guy. Its a win-win for Harry: “Cycling has made me more relaxed and given me so much more energy that I can put directly into the music.” MS is muse for violinist on 513-mile bicycle ride. Philadelphia Inquirer, October 17, 2011, C1, C3
Future Prospects for Baby Boomers
What does the future hold for the Baby Boomers and beyond? In a recent article, Harry Moody, Director of Academic Affairs at AARP, outlined a number of distinct possibilities. Among the most promising outlooks for Americans are two of his predictions: Social Security: Trustees of this fund estimate that there is enough money to pay full benefits through the year 2037 without changing any aspect of the program. The notion that social security is broke is wrong! With some tweaking of the system, Social Security’s solvency can be extended through 2067. This is good news for us and our children, and also our grandchildren, if we make some small moves that guarantee this valuable social program. Medicare: This program is in less good shape than Social Security. Its condition was substantially improved by the Health Care Reform Law of 2010. Instead of running out of money in 2017, it will now be secure until 2029. However, health care costs must be contained. How to do this is open to many points of view, including allowing older people to have more say in how their lives are lived and ended. From: Reflecting on the 21st Century by H. R. Moody, Generations: Journal of the American Society on Aging. 2010, 34, 23-27.

Couch Potato Alarm
We all know that television is addictive, but we didn’t realize that it can seriously shorten our life span. At least this research reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and a lifestyle study of ten years suggests. The study controlled for other variables that could shorten the life span -- age, weight, smoking, education, hypertension and cholesterol levels. They found that people who watched a lifetime average of six hours of TV a day could expect to live almost five years less than people who spent no time in front of the tube. On average, every single hour of TV viewed after age 25 reduced the viewer’s life expectancy by 22 minutes. Of course, this figure is a mathematical calculation of averages, but it is worth noting. There are many factors that could contribute to this finding beyond watching the TV. Perhaps it is related to the lack of other things, such as exercise beyond going to the refrigerator for another Fosters. From: Study: Each hour of television shortens life by 22 minutes, Personal Health, Philadelphia Inquirer, C2. Research was originally published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Aging Together: Dementia, Friendship & Flourishing Communities, by Susan H. McFadden & John T. McFadden, Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2011. A major theme of this engaging book is that people diagnosed with forms of dementia can be appreciated in new ways, for their potentials as well as their cognitive deficits. In addition, patients, themselves, are becoming organized in support of their needs and willing to stand up for their rights to be treated as full citizens and worthy members of their communities. This sea change has significant implications for the growing population of people over the age of 65, who are closest to the time when this diagnosis may be applied to them, as well as for their families, their friends, and their neighbors.

Authors Susan H. McFadden and John T. McFadden, she, a psychologist, and he, a chaplain, have written a serious, scholarly and sensitive book designed to facilitate this shift in perspective. At its heart is the notion that along the dementia road, true friends should accompany you. Why they will do so, how they will do so and what the changing relationship will become are central topics of the book. The McFaddens argue that people are fearful of accepting the call to keep in connection with family members and friends who have begun the trip to oblivion. They address ways of overcoming these feelings and finding ways for continuing a warm and caring relationship with those who may no longer reciprocate fully. The book should attract a variety of professional readers, as well as people in relation with those who are becoming progressively forgetful. It is heartening to read how new appreciations, new skills, and new forms of understanding can enrich a friendship- or kindle one - with those losing their cognitive skills. Suggestions are given as to how to relate caringly to these friends along their way. The authors also discuss how to appreciate the positive changes that people with dementia often acquire, such as becoming more playful and loving than they were before.

In terms of community development, the nature of the environment is significant in how people with dementia sustain their identities, and adapt to and experience their new worlds. For many people who are diagnosed, group living is more socially satisfying and upbeat than being left alone at home. This view runs counter to the now prevailing notion that living in one’s own home is the ideal. Also, rather than being the target of aid, those diagnosed may well become providers for others. Although the tasks may be simple, helping others continues to be a value, regardless of one’s cognitive state.

THE ENCORE STAGE OF LIFE
With pleasure, we share an invitation to our readers from Mark Freedman, CEO of Civic Ventures:

Dear Mary,
Retirements that promise 30 or 40 years of leisure are no longer sustainable – for individuals or society. Instead, it’s time we recognize that people in their 50s, 60s and 70s are in a new stage of life and work, an encore stage that provides the chance to make a real difference in the world. I see signs that the encore stage is starting to catch on. The New York Times ran an article entitled “Teaching as a Second, or Even Third, Career,” which cites our work with community colleges. Brad Jupp, a senior program aide to Education Secretary Arne Duncan, says: “There is an incredible opportunity here for those who are pursuing encore careers.” ABC News cited Purpose Prize winner Wilma Melville as its Person-of-the-Week on Friday. After retiring from teaching, Melville launched an encore career training rescue dogs to rescue disaster victims. And Washington University in St. Louis made news by conducting a survey of MSW students over 40 to determine if they got what they came for – mainly, an encore career in social work. “We found that people came, they did well, they went out and accomplished their plans,” says professor Nancy Morrow-Howell. “They got into the careers they wanted and they looked very favorably at their experience.” One final reason to celebrate: Tens of thousands more children in urban elementary schools will soon get the benefit of tutors and mentors in search of an encore. This past week, AARP and Experience Corps announced that they are joining forces. Let us know when you see signs that the encore stage of life and work is taking hold. Write us at info@encore.org. All best, Marc Freedman Founder and CEO, Civic Ventures Author, The Big Shift: Navigating the New Stage Beyond Midlife

Nan Phifer writes:
I appreciate your valuable newsletter, and for the next issue I'd like to submit the following announcement:
"Life-Review through Spiritual Memoirs" will be demonstrated in a workshop led by Nan Phifer, author of Memoirs of the Soul: A Writing Guide, during the Fifth Annual International Conference on Positive Aging to be held December 6 - 9, in Los Angeles, CA. Phifer will show how to identify meaningful writing subjects, prompt spontaneous writing, and evoke affirming insights. Participants will become able to replicate and adapt Phifer's writing process to bring about fulfilling, positive life-review. See www.memoirworkshops.com and www.positiveaging.fielding.edu.

Thank you, Mary!
Nan

James Lenarz writes about his positive aging study group, which he founded after noticing how dismal the conversations about aging were at his senior housing facility, Copperfield Hill.
“At our meeting one member presents to the others information on some aspect of Positive Aging which she/he has researched, an example would be Positive Aging and Laughter. The group then discusses the subject and may consider such questions as:

• How does this relate to our own aging and eldering?
• How does this impact the quality of our lives and that of our families and community?
• What would be appropriate action?

We have had presentations on Positive Aging & Exercise, Volunteering, Resiliency, Myths, and Laughter.

James has asked for suggestions about new topics, about how to intrigue new members, and how to keep the study group going. If you have ideas to share with James, his email is jlenarz@comcast.net

Harry Butler, responding to our summary of a research report that early childhood musical education helps to stave off cognitive losses with aging, writes:
I was a musician in high school and I spent 4 years at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music (bass trombone). I always thought that my years at the Conservatory gave me time to mature and develop conscientiousness so that 3 1/2 years of additional undergraduate study were easy for me. It never occurred to me that my studying music might have given me an edge. Consistent with your reported findings, my bass trombone teacher of that time, Betty Glover, lives in the South of France and at 88, she has lost nothing. She was a pioneer. She was the first woman bass trombone teacher in any major symphony orchestra and the second woman trombone player of any kind in a major symphony orchestra. I think she will be pleased to learn that her musical studies contributed to her current vibrant old age.

We Stand Corrected:
In our last issue we wrote about a rabbi, Dayle Friedman, who has served a community of elderly Jewish people in the Philadelphia area. We commended her for her position that she went there not to serve, but to engage with these people. There were some corrections to be made, as we discovered when she was kind enough to write us.

Dear Ken and Mary,
Just reread the piece and I'd like to note the following corrections, in case you can correct the online version:

1. I was not the FIRST of 75 women rabbis--I was within the first 75...important distinction of being the first belongs to Rabbi Sally Priesand, not me!
2. Web address is www.growingolder.co (not .com!)
3. One mention has my name as "Gayle" not "Dayle"

If it's not possible to correct, no problem, and if it is, I thank you so much!!!
Warmly, Dayle

The Fifth International Positive Aging Conference will be held in Los Angeles from Dec. 6-9, 2011, under sponsorship of the Fielding Graduate University. Fielding also offers a program on "Creative Longevity and Wisdom" and the December conference will include sessions on community, creativity, wellness, and life transitions. For more information about this event see: http://www.positiveaging.fielding.edu/ Keynote speaker for the Positive Aging conference will be Mary Catherine Bateson, author of the new book Composing a Further Life. For more on her and this book visit: http://www.marycatherinebateson.com/bibliography.html

We are sending our newsletter from a new distribution point, and we hope you are able to receive it without difficulty. Please email me, Mary Gergen gv4@psu.edu if you have any trouble opening or reading it.

Questions & Feedback
If you with to change your email address or have any questions, or material you'd like to share with other newsletter readers, please e-mail Mary Gergen at gv4@psu.edu

Past issues
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There is great pleasure to be had in helping others. But the joys of helping turn sour when others don't want your help. Context is everything! The common stereotype is that the aging need assistance - we are too tired to stand in a bus, to carry heavy objects, to master complex situations, and so on. But do we want to be helped on such occasions? The issues are complex because receiving help may define us in certain ways. For women, it is especially complex because there is the tradition of chivalry in which help from a man is a complement. There is also the feminist view that such help sustains the traditional stereotype of strong men vs. weak women. And so it is that as we age, attempts to help us seem to cast us into the dustbin: "You are old!" Behind the smile of gratitude, we might painfully be asking, "Do I really look that old?" Sometimes it is annoying, as in the cartoon when the old lady tells the Scout, “But I didn’t want to cross the street.” These issues came home for us recently when a younger couple from Asia came for a visit of several days. We are used to entertaining foreign visitors in our home, and as these scholars had a keen interest in our professional work, our altruistic intentions were high. Alas, theirs were too! As we tried to behave as gracious hosts, they carried out their cultural tradition by treating us as “ revered elders.” This tension was played out in many ways. After an hour's conversation, they felt we must be tired. They wakened early so that they could make breakfast for us; on their final day they announced that they wished to clean our house. We struggled to teach them that none of this was necessary; rather we wished to treat them as valued guests. We worked it out… It seems to us that a major challenge confronting the older and fitter generations of today is teaching the young when and where help is appreciated. They need to learn more about "the new aging," and the continuing strengths that can be enjoyed into the 90s. At the same time, we must also take into account the desires of the young to be helpful. When one's grown children want to host a family get-together, for example, one must learn to graciously accept the favor. It is a gift to them to express pleasure in their care of us. Times are changing, and we must be teachers as well as learners. Mary and Ken Gergen

What does high school have to do with how long one lives? As a predictor of longevity, plenty, as these researchers found. A frequent assumption in the gerontology literature is that there is a correlation between IQ scores and longevity. Smarter people, on this account, have a slight tendency to live longer. In this study, however, an analysis was made of a sample of over 10,000 Wisconsin high school graduates of 1957. They were followed until 2009, when most were 68 years old. By that time, many in the class had passed away. Was there anything in these early years, they asked, that successfully predicted who remained alive? Interestingly, one of the strongest predictors turned out to be one’s rank in one’s high school class. In fact, the researchers found that the high school rank was three times more powerful in predicting longevity than IQ! Why should this be so? The researchers propose that high school rank is an indicator of other behaviors that are helpful for survival. Most important may be habits of conscientiousness. Students elected to the Honor Society in high school are usually those who do their homework, obey their teachers, and study hard to make good grades. Intelligence helps, but self-discipline helps even more. Such habits of self-discipline are also helpful in maintaining health in later life. Of course, it is also possible that the wild ones from high school eventually settle down and become responsible citizens. Those that do may well live as long as the “goody goods”, who always had their homework done. From: Adolescent IQ and Survival in the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study by Robert M. Hauser & Alberto Palloni. The Journal of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 66B, i91-i101.

Safer Driving with Grandparents
At the commencement of this study, researchers expected that grandparents, due to their age, reduced perceptual skills, and other deficits, would be more likely to injure their grandchildren in a car accident than their parents would. However, this research revealed that indeed the reverse was the case. When grandparents were driving, injuries to children were less frequent and less serious than when parents were driving. Children driven by grandparents comprised 9.5% of the sample but resulted in only 6.6% of the total injuries. Although nearly all children were reported to have been restrained, children in crashes with grandparent drivers used optimal restraint slightly less often. Despite this, children in grandparent-driven crashes were at one-half the risk of injuries as those in parent-driven crashes. The lead researcher, a grandfather, conjectured that grandparents take the role of driving their grandchildren very seriously, and are more careful about driving with them than their parents are. They are more focused on getting somewhere and tend to take their children’s presence for granted.From: Grandparents driving grandchildren: An evaluation of child safety and injuries by F.M. Henretig, D. R. Durbin, & M. J. Kallan, Pediatrics, 2011, August, 128, 289-295.

Successful Aging Among Alaskan Tribal Elders
Almost all of the research on successful aging has been done with mainland Americans, often white and middle-class folks. This interesting research was done with a group of 26 Tribal “Elders” from the Bristol Bay region of Alaska. They are natives of the region, and their views of successful aging include becoming a highly regarded role model in their villages. The researcher, Jordan Lewis, was interested in learning what the indigenous perspective would be on what it takes to become a successful “elder.” Lewis interviewed 26 elders, ages 61-93, in this area. With the help of some sophisticated computer technology and his own “gut” reactions, he and his graduate student assistant came up with four central elements essential to attaining successful elderhood. The first was Emotional Well-Being. Although these elders had led hard lives and had faced many difficulties, they had not turned to drugs and alcohol for escape. Instead they maintained a sense of hope, especially for the youth in their communities, and they were highly involved in teaching them traditional ways of life. They took pride in the accomplishments they had achieved over many years. Engagement in the community was also central to their identity as elders. When western forms of government were instituted in their area, these men, who had been chiefs of tribal groups, had been stripped of their powers. Later, Elder Councils were established throughout the region, and they became part of the governance system. Again, they became important leaders in their communities.

The third element is Spirituality. Most elders go to religious services, which offer a spiritual resource, as well as a social network. Beyond this, many elders mentioned daily connections to spiritual resources through prayer. The major religious influence in the area is the Russian Orthodox Church, to which many of these elders belong. (Russian is not so far away for these people.) Last, physical health was rated as significant in living a good life. Moderate exercise and engaging in subsistence activities, such as fishing, helped improve the quality of life for the elders in this study. They also tended to eat traditional diets, high in vegetation and meat, and abstained from alcohol. One is struck by the ways in which these ways of life resonate with much that has been written about successful aging in other cultures. In many studies reported previously in this newsletter, the factors that enhance prospects of longevity include emotional stability, engagement with one’s community, physical activity and spiritual practices. From: Successful aging Through the eyes of Alaska native elders: What it means to be an elder in Bristol Bay, AK by Jordan F. Lewis, The Gerontologist, 51, 540-549.

IN THE NEWS:

Elders Risk Their Lives for the Young
Sometimes it is said that older people are selfishly concerned with their own wellbeing; the generations to come can take care of themselves. Gerontologists generally reject this view. On the side of the gerontologists comes a dramatic piece of news from Japan. A group of 200 Japanese pensioners, trained as engineers and other related professions, have formed a group called the Skilled Veterans Corps. Their mission is to tackle the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima power station caused by the devastating tsunami of March, 2011. Three of the reactors suffered meltdowns, and the plan is to bring the plant to a cold shutdown by January 2012. Japanese authorities announce that the radiation level at the plant is double the acceptable level for human beings. Yet, the volunteers want to take on the job. They believe that because they do not have so long to live anyway, they should accept the dangers of the radiation instead of people from younger generations. We stand in great respect of their bravery and generosity of spirit.
From: Japanese Elders Vow to Brave Nuclear Danger. Gerontological News, July 2011, pg. 11. Musical Training Insulates Against Decline
Learning to play a musical instrument as a child can prevent cognitive decline later in life, according to research from the University of Kansas Medical Center. The psychologists recruited 70 healthy adults, 60 to 83 years old, and assessed the musical training they’d had over their lives. The participants, who all had similar levels of education and academic achievement, were divided into high-level, low-level and non-musicians. When the researchers administered a battery of cognitive tests that measured visual-spatial memory, object naming and the ability to learn new information, the high-level musicians scored best, followed by the low-level musicians and then non-musicians. Those who still played instruments fared no better than those who were heavily trained as children, but then stopped years ago. This suggests that the musical training itself has a protective effect. (Neuropsychology, Vol. 25, No. 3) From: APA Psychological Science Agenda - July 2011 A Case of Meaningful Engagement
Dayle Friedman was the first of 75 female rabbis to be ordained in the 1970’s. Her first job was as a chaplain at the Philadelphia Geriatric Center, which was home to 1,100 Jewish elders. One of the first lessons she applied there was that she should not “serve” the clientele, but engage with them. In her view, one of the worst aspects of institutional care is that those who are cared for become helpless as they comply with the rules and rituals of the establishment. They often become depressed because they no longer have any purpose in life beyond staying alive. Rabbi Friedman emphasized the concept of “mitzvah” or religious duty to remind the elders that they should engage in study, worship and service as part of their Jewish heritage. As Friedman said, “What makes life worth living if we just address physical needs – housing, care, transportation?” Her view is that the spiritual dimension brings a sense of meaning to one’s life. She started a confirmation class, a Bas Mitzvah, for many of the women who had never been given the opportunity in their youths, as this rite had been reserved primarily for their brothers. Another of Friedman’s contributions was creating training programs for students enrolled in a rabbinical college so that they could become more skilled in working with older people. She also has written books designed to help further this goal, as well as runs a private practice, which offers guidance and training for people who want help in matters of spirituality, meaning making, medical decision-making, and celebrating life’s transitions, including coming to terms with dying. As for end of life choices, “We should do what we can to empower the person to make choices, to ensure his or her wishes are respected through as many beautiful moments as are possible.” Clearly Gayle Friedman's engaging work gives her life meaning as well. From: After preparing for life’s final exam: Rabbi Dayle Friedman helps elders find a sense of meaning in the end of life by Alison Biggar, Aging Today, July-August, 2011, pg. 1,15. See www.growingolder.com for more about Rabbi Friedman’s work.

Aama’s Journey: A Pilgrimage Between Continents and Cultures, by Brougton Coburn.
In 1992, an elderly woman from a village in the foothills of the Himalayas reached the retirement age of 84 and took a trip to America. This book covers her travels through the country, in which she meets with farmers, Native Americans, Hutterites, and visits the natural wonders of Yellowstone Park and other places. Her reactions to the country are amusing, surprising and sometimes disconcerting, yet it is also possible to identify with her emotions and sensibilities. The author is available to give presentations that highlight this book, as well as his own vast experience living in Nepal, Tiber and India, working for the U. N. and the World Bank. Email to bcoburn@wyoming.com and see www.unusualspeaker.com

Web Resources
The Everyday Kindness Newsletter recently contained a video from You Tube on the Impact of smiling on life, health and well-being.

Ann Basting writes:
Your last issue is as thoughtful and thought-provoking as always. If you want to explore "forget memory - try imagination" more, I did a book that explores the stigma of memory loss and 10 programs that turn toward imagination called Forget Memory. All the best, and thanks for your work... Also be sure to check out the blog for my latest project: www.penelopeproject.wordpress.com
Anne Basting, Director UWM Center on Age & Community Assoc. Professor Theatre, Peck School of the Arts P.O. Box 786, Milwaukee, WI 53201

Nancy Gordon, Director of CLH Center for Spirituality and Aging, writes:
Greetings!
As I begin my fourth year of programming at the California Lutheran Homes Center for Spirituality and Aging, I decided it was time to review some of the basics. So I've asked Donald Koepke, director emeritus, to come back and co-present a seminar about caring for the whole person. As we talked about this event, we agreed that it's easier to subscribe to a philosophy of whole person wellness than it is to actually attend to the spirit even as we care for the body and the mind. So together we're going to examine this journey of aging, look at the ways religion and/or spirituality impact it, look at the mind, body and spirit components of the journey and provide some practices that you can take home for yourself and for those you serve. Our goal is to provide good information, inspiration for the work you do, and some practical "how-tos." All are welcome. October 19 at the Walnut Village Retirement Community, 901 S. Walnut St., Anaheim, CA 92802. $75 registration fee; $20 CE Certificate. Continental breakfast and lunch included. Contact: csadirector@frontporch.net, or 714-507-1370

Sharon Cottor, a Taos Institute Associate, wanted to share an inspiring profile of a 97 year old doctor who works in a hospital in Tokyo:

At the age of 97 years, Shigeaki Hinohara is one of the world's longest-serving physicians and educators. Since 1941 he has been healing patients at St. Luke's International Hospital in Tokyo and teaching at St. Luke's College of Nursing. After World War II, he envisioned a world-class hospital and college springing from the ruins of Tokyo; thanks to his pioneering spirit and business savvy, the doctor turned these institutions into the nation's top medical facility and nursing school. Always willing to try new things, he has published around 150 books since his 75th birthday, including one "Living Long, Living Good" that has sold more than 1.2 million copies. Some of his words of wisdom: - Energy comes from feeling good. We all remember how as children, when we were having fun, we often forgot to eat or sleep. I believe that we can keep that attitude as adults, too. It's best not to tire the body with too many rules. - My inspiration is Robert Browning's poem "Abt Vogler." My father used to read it to me. It encourages us to make big art, not small scribbles. It says to try to draw a circle so huge that there is no way we can finish it while we are alive. All we see is an arch; the rest is beyond our vision but it is there in the distance. - Pain is mysterious, and having fun is the best way to forget it. - Hospitals must be designed and prepared for major disasters, and they must accept every patient who appears at their doors. March 20, 1995, members of the Aum Shinrikyu religious cult launched a terrorist attack in the Tokyo subway. We accepted 740 victims and in two hours figured out that it was sarin gas that had hit them. Sadly we lost one person, but we saved 739 lives. - Science alone can't cure or help people. Science lumps us all together, but illness is individual. Each person is unique, and diseases are connected to their hearts. To know the illness and help people, we need liberal and visual arts, not just medical ones. - It's wonderful to live long. In our later years, we should strive to contribute to society.

]]>http://www.taosinstitute.net/2011-julyaugust2011 May/Junehttp://www.taosinstitute.net/2011-mayjuneTue, 26 Jul 2011 05:00:00 GMTContent DeveloperClick here for the PDF - Printable version of Issue No 68 May/June, 2011 THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER May/June, 2011 The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen, dedicated to productive dialogue between research and practice. Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net). “THE BEST IN…INSIGHTS IN AGING” Wall Street Journal Issue No 68 COMMENTARY: Needed: Category Busters RESEARCH: Preventing Cognitive Decline When Every Day is a Challenge Hap...]]>Click here for the PDF - Printable version of Issue No 68 May/June, 2011 THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER May/June, 2011 The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen, dedicated to productive dialogue between research and practice. Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net). “THE BEST IN…INSIGHTS IN AGING” Wall Street Journal Issue No 68 COMMENTARY: Needed: Category Busters RESEARCH: Preventing Cognitive Decline When Every Day is a Challenge Hap...Click here for the PDF - Printable version of Issue No 68

May/June, 2011

THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER

THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER May/June, 2011
The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen,
dedicated to productive dialogue between research and practice.
Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net).

There were the heroes of gang busters and ghost busters, and now we need a new variety of hero: the category buster. By this we mean people who challenge the common attempt to describe and explain us in terms of set categories. Recently an Irish therapist colleague argued strongly against understanding clients in terms of diagnostic categories. She was especially concerned with people who are called “disabled” because of the effects of this category on their lives. Once they accepted the label into their lives, they began to shape their lives around it. The same is true of such categories as "aging" and "old." It is not only that such labels suggest constraints over how we may behave, they also reduce our sense of who we are. Some time ago a woman at a party introduced another woman, as “Julie, a cancer survivor.” Julie recoiled at this definition of herself because it shoved all the other aspects of herself into the shadows of a diagnosis. Such thoughts were magnified by the front cover of the New York Times Magazine, June 26, 2011, which featured a Yankees baseball player with a candle on his helmet, standing on a birthday cake. The caption read, “Derek Jeter turns 37, an age that, for a professional athlete, is nothing to celebrate.” Inside, a long article featured statistics on the decline of aging athletes. However, less than a month later the shortstop climbed into the record books when he reached 3,000 hits, an achievement that is rare in baseball history. Further, this hit was a home run; the fans were delirious. Jeter's category defying behavior was equaled as well by two women tennis players in the finals of the French Open. Both women - Na Li from China and Francesca Schiavone from Italy - were hovering in their 30s, an age when most women tennis players are considered well past their supposed prime. Now, however, we must celebrate the category busters in their later years. These are the heroes among us who disregard the cultural expectations, who refuse to be constrained by categories. They reject the common phrase “I am too old to ...” flirt, go dancing, enter the contest, buy a sports car, have my teeth fixed, visit Egypt, learn Spanish, go white water rafting, etc. They are more like our friend who survived cancer to take up running at the age of 50, and who at the age of 70 is an award winning distance runner. These are the new heroes; they challenge the common stereotypes and in doing so contribute to lasting cultural changes. They also invite us all to think freshly about what is possible in our own lives. Mary and Ken Gergen

Often in this newsletter we have reported on small research studies that have made claims that various forms of activity, such as playing bridge or walking briskly will improve one’s cognitive capacities, or at least prevent some cognitive decline. Trying to ferret out the really significant scientific findings from the wishful thinking variety, NIH (National Institute of Health) called together a panel of 15 experts across a range of fields from various medical fields, nursing, psychiatry, mental health, family caregiving, and more, plus 20 experts who presented their data to the panel. Among the conclusions: - There was no compelling evidence of a relationship between cognitive decline and childhood socioeconomic status, education, past alcohol use, or the use of pharmaceutical agents or dietary supplements to prevent cognitive decline. - A robust association exists between the loss of a spouse and cognitive decline. This finding supports numerous other research reports in this Newsletter pointing to the beneficial effects of social participation on well-being and longevity. - There is a beneficial impact of physical activity and other leisure activities (such as club membership, religious services, painting, or gardening) on cognitive function. Increased involvement with cognitive activities in later life may also be beneficial. It should be noted, however, that there are difficulties in drawing firm conclusions, especially because there are neither standardized definitions of decline nor common measuring practices. Researchers may variously define and measure decline in several ways: Memory of various sorts, planning, integrating information, focused attention, imagination, creativity, and more, and what is the case for one study may not be for another. From: NIH State-Of-The-Science Conference Statement on Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease and Cognitive Decline Vol 27, Number 4, April 26-28, 2010, National Institute of Health, Office of the Director (http://consensus.nih.gov)

We report here on the creation of a novel exploration that is proving useful in improving the lives of older people with difficulties in managing everyday life tasks, such as bathing, dressing and toileting. The program called Advancing Better Living for Elders (ABLE) involves participation in five occupational therapy sessions and one physical therapy session over 6 months. The Occupational Therapists (OT’s) meet the participants and through interviews determine what the priorities are for each individual. For each targeted area the OT’s observe and evaluate how well the participant performs each activity. The OT’s encourage the client to identify specific aspects of the performance that they wish to improve upon, and they co-create strategies for doing so. For example, someone may be especially interested in being about to take a shower safely. Special attention is given to balance and muscle strengthening techniques, and ways to recover from falls more effectively. In addition, the client and therapist may decide that a special mat and hand rails should be installed to make the bathing safer. There are progress reviews and additional educational resources provided. After the educational program is completed, brief check-ins are made to reinforce good habits. The results of this program are powerful and positive. Among the 319 people in the study, 70 years old or older, from various social groups, functional difficulties were reduced and fear of falling fell. People felt more in control of their lives and had safer dwellings. Mortality was reduced by 9% at 12 months. People from the program who were hospitalized in the first year had no deaths, compared to 21% among the control group. A lower mortality rate was sustained over 3.5 years, and was especially notable for people over 80. In effect, when challenged with everyday activities, important steps can be taken to improve conditions. From: Enhancing Quality of Life in Functionally Vulnerable Older Adults: From Randomized Trial to Standard Care by Laura N. Gitlin, Tracey Vause Earland, Catherine Verrier Piersol, & Geri Shaw. Generations: Journal of the American Society on Aging, Spring, 2010, 84-87.

Closely related to the topic of marital conflict is a recent study of happiness over the life-span. In 2008 a phone survey was performed by the Gallup Organization with over 340,000 randomly selected adults aged 18-85 in the U. S. The respondents were average folks, with 29% holding a college degree and a median monthly household income between $3,000 and $4,000. The participants were asked to rate how they currently felt their life stood on a scale of 0 (“the worst possible life for you”) to 10 (“The best possible life for you”). They were also asked if they had felt various different emotions, such as happiness, enjoyment, stress, sadness, anger, and worry, a lot on the previous day. Lead researcher Dr. Arthur Stone, of Stony Brook University, reports that stress peaked between the ages of 22-25, and decreased drastically after age 50. Worry was relatively constant from 20-40, then declined in the mid-50’s. Anger began tapering off after 18; Sadness increased for those in their 40’s, and then declined for those in their mid- to late 50’s. It increased slightly for those in their mid-70’s. (One might well imagine that sadness at those times could be attributed to the loss of parents and partners through death.) The best news was that both happiness and enjoyment peaked at two points in the life-cycle, when people were 20 and again when they were 70. These findings support the frequently found difference between younger and older people, that older people are more able to regulate negative emotions, and recall fewer of them in their lives.

Interestingly, between the genders, women throughout the life-span tend to report more stress, sadness and worry than men. Here is a topic worthy of further investigation.

From: Its getting better all the time: Happiness, well-being increase after 50 by Katherine Harmon, Scientific American, May 17, 2010. From their website.

The common stereotype is that older people have no interest in computers and the internet. Surveys do show that the younger population is more involved with the internet, and social networks, in particular. But the trend is shifting, and each year, increasing numbers of older people are becoming wired. What are the benefits of this involvement? In this study, Galit Nimrod from the Center for Multidisciplinary Research in Aging, Ben-Gurion University, examined the contents and characteristics of messages exchanged by seniors’ online communities. Data from 14 leading online communities was examined, including over 700,000 messages. During this one year period, the level of activity constantly increased. The major points of discussion included, from highest to lowest:

fun on line

retirement

family health

work and study

recreation

finance

religion and spirituality

technology

aging

civic and social relations

shopping

travel

There were also ample exchanges involving political and intellectual issues and those that invited creativity. The benefits from being on-line were many, and especially for those physically unable to be out in the world with ease. As the researcher concluded, on-line communities can provide social support and self-preservation; they can serve as an opportunity for self-discovery and growth.

THE FEAR OF FORGETTING
Margaret Gullette, a prominent writer on issues of aging, has hit the nail on the head in her critique of our national pastime of worrying about memory loss. “The mere whiff of perceived memory loss can have terrible consequences. This epidemic of anxiety around memory loss is so strong that many older adults seek help for the kind of day-to-day forgetfulness that was once considered normal.” Part of this fear is related to the hype around Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementia. People over 55 dread getting Alzheimer’s more than any other disease, according to a 2010 survey. Gullette suggests that there are economic advantages to those who foster such fears, and that ordinary folks should try to resist them. Strangely, despite the commonplace notion that it is possible to diagnose someone with Alzheimer’s, no test can predict whether forgetting names or common words is a sign of degenerative disease or not. Most forgetfulness is not a sign of any impairment at all. The major damage is done when those around someone forgetful start to treat the person in a patronizing manner or avoid them altogether. Despite cognitive impairments, which do occur more often as people get very old, people can live happily with their families for a long time. Gullette’s mother, who died at 96, was forgetful, but she found the upside to it was that many of her rancorous memories were among the casualties. She was able to sing, recite her favorite poems, and even created some new ones. The important thing is to emphasize personhood over disability; the slogan “forget memory, try imagination” is at the heart of a play written from the poems of people with degenerative diseases. Gullette believes it is time to stop fear-mongering about forgetfulness, and reaffirm our collective compact with people of any age, regardless of their impairments. Everyone needs to look forward to old age with hope and not despair.

From: Our Irrational Fear of Forgetting by Margaret Morganroth Gullette, New York Times, May 22, 2011, Sunday Opinion, 9. Also by the same author: Agewise: Fighting the New Ageism in America, 2011, University of Chicago Press. In this book, the theme of ageism and its corrosive effects of social life and policy decisions, as well as on individual well-being are examined. Marketers take advantage of this bias to profit at the expense of the general public, and especially older people. Gullette encourages resistance, via education, secure social safety nets, and other opportunities.

THE MIND AT MIDLIFE
If we wish to combat ageism among older people, we have to start with the younger generation as well. What about the many people in the middle ages who begin to worry about their slipping mental capacities? Here too we are victims of a subtle ageism. In a recent summary of the existing research on the brain at mid-life, Melissa Lee Phillips discovered many studies indicating that the middle aged brain is just fine, thank you very much. One way to look at what is happening at mid-life: “The middle-aged mind preserves many of its youthful skills and even develops some new strengths.” Just as in younger years, the brain’s capacity to rewire itself continues through middle age, and beyond. In addition middle-agers are less neurotic and better able to sort through social situations. Some people’s cognitive skills improve over what they could do as young people.

The Seattle Longitudinal study has tracked the cognitive abilities of thousands of adults over the past 50 years. Results indicate that middle aged adults perform better on four out of six cognitive tests than those same individuals did as young adults. (It is unusual to have a study in which the same people are studied over time so these results seem exceptionally strong.) What slows down as we age are memorization skills and perceptual speed (that is, how quickly we can say we saw something). What is more important to most of us having greater verbal abilities, spatial reasoning, and math and abstract reasoning skills. Further support for the increasing capacity in older ages was found in a study published in Neurology in 2007, in which researchers tested pilots aged 40-89 as they performed on flight
simulators. Older pilots took longer to learn to use the simulators but did a better job than their younger colleagues at achieving their objective: Avoiding collisions. (We note that the recent spate of near misses of planes at U. S. airports have had newly trained air traffic controllers in charge.) One of the consistent findings in this research is that one size does not fit all. Some people gain, some lose, and some seem to stay about the same in terms of their cognitive abilities. In the Seattle study, for example, most participants’ ability to remember a list of words declined in middle age, but about 15% of the people improved their scores over what they had done as young adults. In general, those people who improve, intellectually, over time are more likely to be physically, cognitively and socially active than their peers who do not improve. From: The Mind at Midlife by Melissa Lee Phillips. APA Monitor on Psychology, April 2011, 39-41. .

LIVING LONG AND WELL
What do the experts say about how we might outsmart our genes, whatever they are, in order to live longer and more satisfying lives.

Engage in physical activity. In a recent study done with over 8,000 adults in Australia over a six year study, the benefits of movement on longevity proved to be immense. On the other hand, for each daily hour of television watched, there was an 18% increase in deaths from heart disease and an 11% increase in overall mortality. The researchers controlled for prior heart disease and other risk factors, such as diet and smoking. Interestingly, being overweight, itself, was not a significant factor.

Sun yourself 15 minutes a day, in order to get your Vitamin D for strong bones. (Don’t use sun blocker). If you live in the north, (above Atlanta) you will need to supplement the sunshine with pills in the winter.

Choose foods that look the same when you eat them as when they come from nature… (which is a clever idea, although not very conducive to creative cookery.) If hungry, snack on healthy foods between meals. How about them apples?

Sleep more than 7 hours a night. (Some sleep experts suggest that looking at a screen, computer or TV, is not a helpful activity before bedtime. Reading and sex are better.)

Find meaning in your daily activities. “You have one life; it makes sense to love living it.”

Resource: Living Long and Living Well by Dr, Oz, Time, Feb. 22, 2010, pg 82.

LONGER LIFE FOR MEN
Good news for seniors! According to the U. S. census from 2010, the difference between the life expectancies of men and women has shrunk, and men are living longer. This is especially true in the over 65 age group. Currently the life expectancy at birth is 80.8 for women and 75.6 for men. Since 2000 the number of men 65 and older increased by 21%, compared with 11% for women. This increased prevalence of men has many political and social ramifications. “Last month the Republican-controlled House approved sweeping changes to Medicare for people younger than 55, but the party has begun to pull back after meeting stiff protest from older voters.” Issues that were once considered relevant only to older women are now becoming important to aging men, who see a longer future ahead for themselves. From: Gender Gap is Narrowing among U.S. Seniors by Hope Yen, Associated Press, May, 2011

The Spiral of the Seasons: Welcoming the Gifts of Later Life
by John G. Sullivan, Chapel Hill, NC: Second Journey Publications. 2009.

Author John Sullivan, a member of the Elon University philosophy department, offers an engaging and inspiring little book. Unsurprisingly, the book is organized around the seasons, beginning with “Spring’s Stirrings: The Art of a Beginner” and continuing into “Summer’s Fullness: Finding Fulfillment in the Rising and Falling Phases of Life”, through “Autumn’s Way: Releasing and Simplifying”, and finally “Winter’s Gifts: Dwelling in the Depth”. The notion of the springtime is that we are all always beginners, and we must appreciate that eternal aspect of ourselves. For the summer season, Sullivan stresses the import of relationships and caring. Fall is a time of forgiving, releasing, and simplifying. In Winter, the mysteries of life -- depth, vastness, the unknown -- are explored. Each essay contains lovely stories drawn from diverse traditions: Zen, Muslim, Christian, Jewish, as well as words from various sages, including Bob Dylan’s lyrics for “Forever Young.” Although simply written and short, the book has rich commentaries that create slow reading, in the manner of slow food.. something to deliciously hold in our senses. This is a lovely gift to share. MMG

Jay Bloom writes: Thanks for sharing your newsletter again.”
Jay has a website on which he offers interesting and engaging essays on aging. For example, he writes about Returnment, not Retirement, and many other interesting topics.We recommend exploring the website to learn more about Jay and his essays: www.bloomanew.com

In previous issues we have explored some of the “skills of aging.” As we proposed, during every phase of life one must grapple with two important challenges: mastering the new and dealing with the loss of the valued. Required in both cases are skills: reconstructing and relinquishing. In this issue of the Newsletter we want to focus on a particular case, one very close to us: the death of John, a dear friend. For us, he provided a stellar example of both these skills in action, and his life serves as an inspiration.

John was a retired insurance broker, who had lived in the suburbs, fathered three children, and had been married for many years before a divorce. He was a Gary Cooper kind of guy -- quiet, unassuming, friendly and conservative. John did have an interest in the arts, and it was during a gallery opening in Philadelphia that he met our longstanding artist friend, Deborah. In contrast to John, Deborah was animated, creative, and a Bohemian at heart. She lived in an artists’ community with a lively group of colleagues. We were thus a little surprised when they took a liking to each other, and wondered how they would click as a couple. But click they did, and soon enough, John left the suburbs to take up residence with his new bride in her studio-home in the city.

The reconstruction began. John had a longstanding interest in collecting old tools and cameras. Soon enough he began to take photography lessons, and with Deborah, to seek out interesting sites for his photo shoots. Within a few years he was exhibiting his work in various shows. He also took courses in welding, and began to find ways of using his old tools and cameras to create innovative statues. One that he kept outside his studio door was made entirely of old cameras. As he developed these talents the public also began to take notice, and soon he was selling his pieces at various exhibits. The community of artists also accepted him into their midst, pleased to have his creative presence, as well as his managerial skills.

Life was expanding in all directions when John was diagnosed with cancer. After several years of valiant resistance and times of recovery, his body began to lose the battle. The challenge now was that of relinquishing. John faced the inevitable with dignity, love for those about him, and an unstinting devotion to his art. For example, on his 80th birthday Deborah invited a dozen friends to a restaurant to celebrate. John had been undergoing radiation and chemotherapy, and his energies were low. However, his devotion to his friends was everywhere evident. As usual, he kept conversation about his illness to a minimum. It was treated as a rather minor sideline to the celebration of his birth. Deborah had asked that there be no gifts, but if we had an interesting metal piece to bring to John, that would be appreciated. There was more sculpting to do! Indeed, John continued to work in his studio until the week he died.

The challenge of relinquishing was now Deborah’s. We were moved by what she shared with us at John’s funeral:
“There was nothing that we had not discovered in our relationship…it was complete.” We dedicate this issue to John and Deborah, in hopes that their examples will inspire others.

Disagreement is common in relationships; the challenge is preventing the conflict from becoming corrosive. In this interesting study, aging couples proved most successful. In this case researchers observed couples as they engaged in conflict. The couples - numbering 300, and predominantly white, middle and upper middle-class heterosexuals - were either middle-aged or older. Each couple discussed a current conflict and was then challenged to collaborate on the planning of errands. (The act of discussing a current conflict was designed to create an argument between the couples.)

As the researchers found, overall the older couples reported less negative emotion during disagreements than did middle-aged couples. They also rated their spouses as warmer than did younger couples, and their marriages as more satisfying than the younger ones did.

When it came to actually disagreeing, observers noted that among older couples, the women, in particular, were more disagreeable to their husbands. The older men showed the highest degree of warmth as they tried to control their partners’ responses. There was evidence from the self-evaluations, that among older couples, “bad” actions were discounted in the evaluation of their spouse’s behaviors.

In general, for both age groups, women were the most emotionally unsettled by relationship stressors, and reported more anger during disagreement than did men. Also women were more likely to display hostile control over their partners, while men were more likely to engage in hostile separation, including ignoring their partners rather than trying to control their behaviors.

When the couples collaborated, older couples displayed a unique blend of warmth and control, suggesting a greater focus on emotional and social concerns during problem solving than the younger ones.
One of the limits of studies such as these is that as people age, their marriages age as well. Among the middle-aged couples, some were probably headed for separation and divorce. This was less likely among the older couples, and thus, there is a strong likelihood that older marriages will be, on average, happier. As a result of this tendency, it is extremely difficult to separate out the effects of aging vs. that of having longer and happier marriages.

Closely related to the topic of marital conflict is a recent study of happiness over the life-span. In 2008 a phone survey was performed by the Gallup Organization with over 340,000 randomly selected adults aged 18-85 in the U. S. The respondents were average folks, with 29% holding a college degree and a median monthly household income between $3,000 and $4,000. The participants were asked to rate how they currently felt their life stood on a scale of 0 (“the worst possible life for you”) to 10 (“The best possible life for you”). They were also asked if they had felt various different emotions, such as happiness, enjoyment, stress, sadness, anger, and worry, a lot on the previous day.

Lead researcher Dr. Arthur Stone, of Stony Brook University, reports that stress peaked between the ages of 22-25, and decreased drastically after age 50. Worry was relatively constant from 20-40, then declined in the mid-50’s. Anger began tapering off after 18; Sadness increased for those in their 40’s, and then declined for those in their mid- to late 50’s. It increased slightly for those in their mid-70’s. (One might well imagine that sadness at those times could be attributed to the loss of parents and partners through death.) The best news was that both happiness and enjoyment peaked at two points in the life-cycle, when people were 20 and again when they were 70.

These findings support the frequently found difference between younger and older people, that older people are more able to regulate negative emotions, and recall fewer of them in their lives. Interestingly, between the genders, women throughout the life-span tend to report more stress, sadness and worry than men. Here is a topic worthy of further investigation.

From: Its getting better all the time: Happiness, well-being increase after 50 by Katherine Harmon, Scientific American, May 17, 2010. From their website.

The common stereotype is that older people have no interest in computers and the internet. Surveys do show that the younger population is more involved with the internet, and social networks, in particular. But the trend is shifting, and each year, increasing numbers of older people are becoming wired. What are the benefits of this involvement?

In this study, Galit Nimrod from the Center for Multidisciplinary Research in Aging, Ben-Gurion University, Israel, examined the contents and characteristics of messages exchanged by seniors’ online communities. Data from 14 leading online communities, was examined, including over 700,000 messages. During this one year period, the level of activity constantly increased. The major points of discussion included, from highest to lowest:

fun on line

retirement

family health

work and study

recreation

finance

religion and spirituality

technology

aging

civic and social relations

shopping

travel

Participation in an online community is a leisure pursuit involving social interactions, intellectual challenges, and creativity. The benefits from being on-line were many, and especially for those physically unable to be out in the world with ease. As the researcher concluded, on-line communities can provide social support and self-preservation; they can serve as an opportunity for self-discovery and growth.

Job hunting is an age-free opportunity these days. Some of us are looking for work after being laid off, or looking for work to supplement our incomes, and some of us are looking for some enrichment in our lives. Working serves many purposes, economically, socially and physically. Yet, getting a job after 50 provides special challenges, not the least of which is age discrimination.

Mark Miller, author of The Hard Times: Guide to Retirement Security, has these suggestions for older job seekers:

In discussing your work history, do not emphasize the years of experience you have had. Emphasize skills and successes, not years on the job.

Be the solution to company problems: Stress how you can do something that will help the organization be more productive or profitable.

Network: Having an inside track to a job opportunity is enhanced if you know someone who works in the same organization or is connected somehow to the place you are interested in. Alumni groups, interest groups, and LinkedIn are all ways to network.

Keep skills current: Often older workers do not keep their technical skills current, and this can become a disadvantage when job seeking. It is helpful to have a tech-savvy mentor to show you the ropes. (Grandchildren might be the key here.)

Look the part: First impressions can be deal makers or breakers. Check your wardrobe, glasses and hairstyle to see how in synch they are with current fashions in the organization you aspire to. Looking sharp helps to sell future employers on your mental capacities and your social skills.

From: How to find a job after 50 by Richard Eisenberg, USA Weekend, May 21-23, 2010.

SEX AFTER RETIREMENT
How does retirement affect one’s sex life? According to a recent survey by AARP, 78% of couples enjoy at least as much sex after retirement as they did before, and 12% say they are even more romantically inclined. That’s good news for many who are wondering what life post-career will be like. For those who would like to prepare for a sexy retirement or to improve on what’s already happening, Dr. Gail Saltz has these suggestions.

Invest in yourself: Do this by injecting some thrills into your life, things that will be interesting to you and to your partner. A stimulating life out of the bedroom stimulates people within it.

Remember Where It All Started: What was the original appeal that attracted you to the other person? Remembering what those qualities were is a step toward increasing desire. Couples who pretend to be strangers on a first date often find it exciting, according to a recent study at the University of British Columbia.

Make Allowances: Our bodies are not in the same shape as they were decades ago. The goal is to find ways of making love that are comfortable as well as exciting. Some changes, such as softer erections, (which are commonplace as one ages), can be readily addressed, with the help of a medical prescription. Also there is more to sex than intercourse, so definitions may need revision.

Embrace the Differences: Celebrate what improves with age. Less inhibitions, more comfort with the other person, and less chance of premature ejaculation. (No fears of unintended pregnancy either!)

Stoke the Flame: Unlike one’s youth, when it was pretty easy to get “turned on”, this may no longer be the case. Give your desire a push by talking about your fantasies, watching a sexy movie together, or touching or complimenting your partner in a warm and tender way. Make plans to have sex, just as you would other engagements. It can jump start the flames to imagine what will happen later in the day. These recommendations assume that everyone has a regular sexual partner; many people do not. Still sexual activity need not be out of the question. Being open to relationships that include sex is important if one is interested; being open to oneself is always an option. For some, sex is a hobby; for others, it is a hobby for others, but not of interest to oneself. That’s OK too.

STORYTELLING: GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH
If you ever told a group of friends about a particular malady, one you think is rather unusual, you will often find out from stories others tell, that indeed what you have is quite common. Some people find it annoying to hear others tell of their ailments, but researchers have recently discovered that hearing others’ stories of their ailments may be just what the doctor ordered. The Annals of Internal Medicine, (January, 18, 154, 77-84) has published the results of a provocative new study examining the effects of storytelling on patients with high blood pressure.

Monitoring the blood pressure of nearly 300 African-American patients who lived in urban areas and had known hypertension, the researchers at three-month intervals gave half the patients videos of similar patients telling stories about their own experiences. The rest of the patients received videos of more generic and impersonal health announcements on topics like dealing with stress. As the results showed, patients who received the storytelling DVD had better blood pressure control on average than the control group. In fact, in the storytelling group, those who started out with uncontrolled hypertension were able to achieve and maintain a drop as significant as it had been for patients on drug regimens.

There are many possible explanations for these findings. For some patients, hearing others talk about their illness may help them to accept their diagnosis and learn ways to get better. The illness may also become less frightening and more a normal event in life. Stories may also help patients feel they are part of a larger community. “The magic of stories lies in the relatedness they foster,” said Dr. Houston, the major researcher on the project.

Healing Conversations Now: Enhance Relationships with Elders and Dying Loved Ones, by Joan W. Chadbourne & Tony Silbert. Taos Institute Publications, 2011.
Written by two authors involved in therapy and social work, and who have experienced the death of loved ones, this book is a guide for having the highly significant and often difficult conversations with older relatives and those approaching death. Most of us have wished that we could start a conversation with someone who may not be with us much longer, but we just don’t know how to get from “How are you today?” to “Tell me what is most important to you as you approach death.” Often the moment passes when we can connect significantly with people who have been important in our lives, or those with whom we have had difficult and distant relations.

The book is filled with stories in which people have been successful in engaging in warm and meaningful conversations with those confronting their death. It also contains specific questions and ways of entering into such conversations and in sustaining them. For those who are tongue-tied at expressing emotions and curiosity about others’ feelings, it is an especially helpful guide. Encouragement is also offered to those on the cusp of entering such conversations.

The book is highly readable and can be read in any order that is helpful. It offers abundant suggestions that can sharpen one’s sensitivities and sense of appropriateness in engaging in such difficult conversations. The book can also be read “backwards” in the sense that although the authors position themselves as younger people offering conversational possibilities for engaging with older partners, it can be very easily interpreted as ways that older people might engage younger ones in these conversations. One might say that older people are more in need of reaching out to their younger family members and are probably more skilled at it than vice versa. We recommend the book for our generation, as well as for younger folks.
MMG

Georgie Bright Kunkel writes:
I have been going on the comedy stage to assuage first my stress during the four years that my husband needed full care before he died, then grieving, and then being lonesome and thinking about dating and now I am actually dating. Attached is my column called Love the Second Time Around. Thought readers might be interested.

It is a whole new adventure for a formerly married woman of 62 1/2 years until my husband died two years ago. There are so many decisions that older singles need to consider when venturing into dating. I am writing a mini-book about it all when I have learned enough to share.

LOVE THE SECOND TIME AROUND
Not much is written about a second chance at love in one’s so-called senior years. After all, people with children, grandchildren and maybe even great grandchildren aren’t expected to enter the dating scene in their advanced years. But everyone needs affection and caring. Remember my article about Senior Dating? In that article I mentioned that I was single again but not dating. I said I didn’t think that any man could keep up with me.

Interestingly enough someone who reads my column thought to himself, “I think I could keep up.” And we are now spending time together getting to know each other. But “getting to know you” as the song says takes some doing in one’s elder years. What a long history one builds up over years of marrying, taking care of a spouse, then losing a spouse and meeting up with a companion who has a completely different history. My close friends kept reminding me that I would never find another partner just like the one I spent 62 and a half years with. Of course that is true. You cannot repeat the past. But one can find a whole new pattern of living with new experiences that are warm and exciting.

Marrying at an advanced age may bring up issues of the children’s inheritance. I once joked on the comedy stage about not having a date and saying, “Even if I did have a date I would never marry again. So if any of my children are in the audience you know that your inheritance is safe.” Some people feel they marry for life and even if a spouse dies, the living partner never seeks to bond again. After my husband died a friend once asked me if I ever talked to my dying husband about my dating after his death. I just laughed and said,” If you knew how independent I am you wouldn’t ask that question.”

People who believe they will be reunited with a spouse in heaven may have difficulty if they have had more than one partner. Can’t you just visualize dying and having to choose which spouse you would prefer to be reunited with in the hereafter? I didn’t have that problem but loneliness after being widowed is often a concern. It can be tempered by continuing with an active life including family contacts, making new friends as older friends die, or having a pet cat or dog. Add to this the closeness of a loving human companion and life can be rich and rewarding. But there are compromises to be made when one is interacting with another human being with a different past than you yourself have experienced. “You mean you like your eggs over and well done?” or “You don’t care for Earl Grey tea?” These differences can be easily overlooked if the electricity is exciting in a dating relationship. With more independence for women in our time there can be more choices other than marriage only. Older women don’t have to worry about having children so that is not an issue. But it does mean that each partner needs to respect the other’s lifestyle that was built before starting the new relationship.

Yes, whenever two people come together for friendship, companionship and love, there is always give and take so that each gains without giving up one’s core values. An exciting journey into companionship is a lesson in caring about another human being who has entered one’s life. If I figure out how it is all done I may write a How To book about it. But I’m not quite ready for that yet.

Jeanne Kelly writes:
Encore Creativity for Older Adults would love for our older adult population to know about 2011 Encore Institutes at Chautauqua, NY. Encore will be offering three performing arts institutes August 29 to Sept. 2, 2011:

Encore Chorale Institute, conducted by Jeanne Kelly – Founder of Encore Chorale, the largest and fastest growing choral program for older adults in the country, and Dr. Barry Talley, retired musical director of United States Naval Academy

Encore Dance Institute, partnering with Liz Lerman Dance Exchange

Encore Theatre Institute, partnering with Stagebridge Theatre

The goal of Encore’s Chautauqua Institution is to become the premiere summer location in the U.S. where older actors, singers, and dancers can explore the performing arts. The institutes attract adult students from around the country who want to learn a new art or perfect lifelong skills.

Charles Macknee, MAIS, writes:
So glad to read that Peter Whitehouse is now on your board of advisors! I tell all those folks engaged in Positive Aging (including a new organization here in Portland, Oregon... the "Positive Aging Network" (- PAN - closely allied with AgingArtfully.org and Wellarts.org) and also Alan DeLatorre at Portland State University's Institute on Aging (who is finishing his PhD, so very busy right now!) about TAOS and "The Myth of Alzheimer's." - I look forward to assisting with possible future collaborations of any creative kind!

Readers ask if they may reprint or circulate materials published in this newsletter. We are most pleased for any expansion in circulation. You are free to use any or all that you find in the newsletter, but trust that you will acknowledge the Newsletter as the source.

We are sending our newsletter from a new distribution point, and we hope you are able to receive it without difficulty. Please email me, Mary Gergen gv4@psu.edu if you have any trouble opening or reading it.

Questions & Feedback:
If you have any questions, or material you'd like to share with other newsletter readers, please e-mail Mary Gergen at gv4@psu.edu

Past issues Past issues of the newsletter are archived at: www.positiveaging.net
How to subscribe, unsubscribe or change your e-mail address:
We hope that you enjoy The Positive Aging Newsletter. New subscribers can join by sending an e-mail to aging-join@swarthmore.edu, and can unsubscribe by sending an e-mail to aging-leave@swarthmore.edu

]]>http://www.taosinstitute.net/2011-march-april2011 January / Februaryhttp://www.taosinstitute.net/2011-january-februaryMon, 14 Mar 2011 05:00:00 GMTContent DeveloperClick here for the PDF- Printable version of Issue No. 66 - Jan/Feb 2011 January/February, 2011 THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen, dedicated to productive dialogue between research and practice. Sponsored by the Taos Institute http://www.taosinstitute.net “THE BEST IN…INSIGHTS IN AGING” Wall Street Journal Issue No 66 COMMENTARY: Positive Aging: Renewing the Vision ANNOUNCEMENT: New Board of Advisors RESEARCH: What Does it Take to be a Centena...]]>Click here for the PDF- Printable version of Issue No. 66 - Jan/Feb 2011 January/February, 2011 THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen, dedicated to productive dialogue between research and practice. Sponsored by the Taos Institute http://www.taosinstitute.net “THE BEST IN…INSIGHTS IN AGING” Wall Street Journal Issue No 66 COMMENTARY: Positive Aging: Renewing the Vision ANNOUNCEMENT: New Board of Advisors RESEARCH: What Does it Take to be a Centena...Click here for the PDF- Printable version of Issue No. 66 - Jan/Feb 2011

January/February, 2011

THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER

The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen,
dedicated to productive dialogue between research and practice.
Sponsored by the Taos Institute http://www.taosinstitute.net

Periodically we like to review again the central mission of this newsletter, thus clarifying what you may anticipate and how you may participate as readers. Since its inception less than eight years ago, the readership of the newsletter has expanded at a rapid rate - now reaching thousands of subscribers in five languages. Our readers include, among others, gerontologists, health related researchers, therapeutic practitioners, service providers for the elderly, and interested laypersons. Many new readers of the newsletter may be curious about the orientation guiding the selection of content.

Our primary aim is to bring to light resources - from research, practice and daily life - that contribute to an appreciation of the aging process. Challenging the longstanding view of aging as decline, we strive to create a vision of life in which aging is an unprecedented period of human enrichment. Such a revolution vitally depends on the communities of research and professional practices that focus on adult populations, especially people over 50. It is within these communities that new ideas, insights, factual support, and practices of growth enhancement can congenially emerge. By focusing on the developmental aspects of aging, and the availability of relevant resources, skills, and resiliencies, research not only brings useful insights into the realm of practice but creates hope and empowers action among older people. By moving beyond practices of repair and prevention, to emphasize growth-enhancing activities, practitioners also contribute to the societal reconstruction of aging.

Reader contributions to the Newsletter are most welcome. If you have writings, insights, or practices that you feel would be especially interesting to subscribers of the Newsletter, you are invited to share them in future issues. We also review selected books and films, and carry announcements of relevant conferences and workshops. Please send your suggestions to Mary Gergen at gv4@psu.edu. Past issues of the Newsletter – both English and non-English versions - are archived at: www.positiveaging.net

To reintroduce ourselves, Kenneth Gergen is a Senior Research Professor at Swarthmore College, and Mary is a Professor Emerita of Psychology and Women's Studies at Penn State University, Brandywine. Ken and Mary are both on the Executive Board of the Taos Institute, a non-profit organization working at the intersection of social constructionist theory and societal practice. Each has a long history of engagement with gerontological inquiry and therapeutic practice.

We are proud to announce the formation of a stellar Board of Advisors for the Newsletter. Their wisdom and insights will guide the future development of the publication and the associated web resources. Our Board consists of therapists, authors, translators, and other scholars who have a strong interest in gerontology. We wish to thank them publicly for their generous and willing support. They are:

The simple answer is that they have lived to be at least 100. In 1990 there were 37,000 who did just that. In 2000 there were 50,000, and by 2030 it is projected that there will be over 300,000. It is presumed that those who reach 100 have the quality of resilience. They have suffered losses, met challenges and experienced difficult times, just by virtue of having lived so long. And because they have lived so long, they have proven that they have some special qualities that are helpful in the aging process. Peter Martin and his colleagues have tried to answer the question of what these qualities might be.

One assumption is that the personality of a centenarian is an important aspect of being able to live a long time. Research does indicate that, most importantly, very old people tend not to be neurotic. They are not overly nervous, easily upset, or festering with a lot of grudges and unpleasant feelings. Another general tendency is for them to be extroverted, outgoing and enjoying of social contact. Other studies suggest that they are quite confident in their competence to do things well, are agreeable and open to experience, and are trusting of others. One might say that the resilient personality is more likely to be a “people person.”

Research on a second domain of resilience – namely one’s social resources - is quite congenial with this picture of the resilient personality. In a meta-analysis of 286 studies of well-being, having a supportive social network was one of the most important contributors to longevity. Further, the traits of calm and self-confidence may be important in helping these people to sustain their social networks. For centenarians, to maintain their social resources requires a constant re-knitting, as death and decline tear it apart, as they outlive most people that they have known.

Basic economic security is also a significant contributor to a long and peaceful life. Although relatively few centenarians have much money they often have what they consider enough to live comfortably. Most of them are not spendthrifts, however, and a little goes a long way with them. As research suggests, to sustain oneself it is important to be glad for what you have and not to worry too much about the future.

Whether cognitive abilities contribute to resilience is less clear. In general the centenarians were able to maintain adequate levels of cognitive functioning throughout very late life, despite adversity and risk. In one study, researchers found that the oldest old had a robust ability to solve everyday life problems. They were able to adapt to changing conditions and stay afloat. At the same time many of the centenarians (about 50%) had some form of dementia. Educational level seemed to be a helpful predictor of higher cognitive abilities, but there were also many cases where people without much education also were still “sharp as a tack.”

Resilience and longevity: Expert survivorship of entenarians by Peter Martin, Maurice MacDonald, Jennifer Margrett, and Leonard W. Poon. In New Frontiers in Resilient Aging: Life Strengths and Well-being in late life, edited by Prem S. Fry and Corey L. M. Keyes. Cambridge University Press, 2010.

Most of us tend to think that if we just had a bit more money we'd get more satisfaction out of life, but on the whole, this turns out not to be true. So why doesn't money make us happier? New research by Jordi Quoidbach and colleagues suggests that the answer lies, at least in part, in how wealthier people lose touch with their ability to savor life's pleasures.

Savoring is a way of increasing and prolonging our positive experiences. Taking time to experience the subtle flavors in a piece of dark chocolate, imaging the fun you'll have on an upcoming vacation (and leafing through your trip photos afterward), telling your friends on Facebook about the hilarious movie you saw over the weekend, basking in a glorious sunset - these are all acts of savoring, and they help us to squeeze every bit of joy out of the good things that happen to us. Why, then, don't wealthier people savor, if it feels so good? It's obviously not for a lack of things to savor. The basic idea is that when you have the money to eat at fancy restaurants every night and buy designer clothes from chic boutiques, those experiences diminish the enjoyment you get out of the simpler, more everyday pleasures, like the smell of a steak sizzling on your backyard grill, or the bargain you got on the sweet little sundress from Target. Life’s little pleasures are belittled. And, rather than living a simpler life, with special events scattered over longer periods, having wealth invites one into seeking continuous high points. Not only are there few intervening moments of savoring, but there are no low points against which the experiences count as high or special.

The research suggests that we contribute to happiness and well-being each day, not through getting and spending, but through savoring the small joys of each day.

OLDER ENTREPRENEURS: THE NEW ECONOMIC FRONTIER
We were very interested to learn that in the US today, baby-boomers prove to be more entrepreneurial than younger generations. Generally we believe that the risky economic behavior associated with starting one’s own business is the province of the young. Yet, over the past decade, the highest rate of entrepreneurial activity belongs to those from 55-64 years old.

Factors that seem to encourage this behavior are: A lower sense of commitment to a single career or one company; longer years of productive activity allowed by better health and energy; a desire to be one’s own boss; and being a victim of downsizing. As a result the Kauffman Foundation predicts that the U.S. is on the cusp of an entrepreneurship boom, and this is very good for the country because start-ups are presumed to be engines of productivity, new job creation, and expanding economic wealth.

Jan Wassel reviewed two books related to this trend. The first, The Second Chance Revolution: Becoming Your Own Boss After 50 by Edward Rogoff and David Carroll is an excellent source for those considering entrepreneurship. After assessing the risks of this high-wire activity, they help the reader understand critical areas such as financing, tax and legal issues, family business issues, hiring, structuring boards, and team building. They also include worksheets to help readers assess their own situation.

A second book, Elderly Entrepreneurship in an Aging US Economy, by Ting Zhang, lauds older workers for contributing significantly to economic growth. Developed from his dissertation, Zhang has created a highly sophisticated discussion of the incentives and disincentives for adults over 61 to continue to work. He believes that older adults’ positive economic influence on the US economy has not been fully recognized, and argues for tax incentives for older adults. Fostering entrepreneurship in an environment of “cultural openness, social tolerance, and diversity, together with low-income tax rates encourages older adults’ business growth” (pg.865).

From: Older Entrepreneurs as the New Economic Frontier by Jan Wassel, The Gerontologist, 2011, 50, 863-865.

MENTAL TASKS: NO PROBLEM FOR THE AGING
Everyone knows that age may bring about challenges to memory – possibly owing to the greater storehouse of what one has learned. Yet, this does not mean that they have more trouble with other mental tasks. Research conducted at North Carolina State University in Raleigh compared older adults with those under 30 in terms of making intuitive decisions, such as choosing a competent home repair contractor or quickly deciding about a chess move or playing a bridge hand. In general, the older people did as well or better than the younger ones. Thomas Hess, one of the researchers, suggested that “Seniors have a knowledge base they can fall back on.... That information can be automatically accessed. It’s not something they have to think too much about.” The life experiences of older people create a set of heuristics that younger people have yet to acquire. More of the world is novel to them and they have to access it, starting from scratch. (The reverse is probably true if the task involved installing a DVD player.)

MARIAN DIAMOND: PIONEERING BRAINSTORMER
A faithful reader and friend from San Francisco sent us a newspaper article about one of our favorite scholars, Professor Marian Diamond of U. C. Berkeley. Dr. Diamond has been teaching students about the brain and its amazing capacities for many decades. She, herself, was a student there in the mid-40’s, and after teaching positions at Cornell and Harvard, she became a revered “fixture” at Berkeley. After producing controversial research on Albert Einstein’s brain, she began to study ways of enhancing brain development. As she found, rats raised in a highly stimulating and challenging environment developed much thicker cerebral cortices than those raised in a boring environment. It is thanks to her that today’s infants find their cribs decorated in colorful, twisting, whistling, flashing or chiming toys and mobiles. (One wonders if this trend has been taken too far!)

Related to positive aging, Diamond also demonstrated a link between playing a mentally challenging game and the strength of the immune system. She brought a bridge club composed of older women to her lab, where they played cards as she measured the white cells in their blood. She also engaged a control group of women to sit quietly listening to music as the others played. The players experienced a surge in their white blood count, (which was good), and the others did not. This study suggests that having a mental challenge is a very healthy way to avoid sicknesses.

Almost the only woman in her field of anatomy, she did not conform to the ways of the “old boy” network. Her goal was to be both an excellent scholar and a successful woman, with a commitment to her family. She raised four children with her first husband, Richard Diamond, and today she engages in a commuter marriage with UCLA neuroscience professor, Arnold Scheibel. He describes her style of working as, “very creative, outside the box. That has not always been appreciated.” Diamond plans to continue teaching as long as she continues to be healthy. She enjoys the challenge, the connection to students, and being a part of the scientific community. She especially appreciates the affection and regard of her former students, now highly skilled professionals in various scientific fields. One said he enjoyed spending time with her because he always leaves her feeling more positive about life. “She makes me want to be a better doctor.” Marian Diamond is a role model for leading a joyful, productive, and loving life at any age.

Connie Springer, a free-lance photographer, has created a charming book filled with the words and photographs of 28 people who had reached the age of 90 plus. Each page is filled with quotable phrases and descriptions of the lives of these people, and each has sat for a portrait. The overall impression is of people who have given much to the world, and are still involved in their projects. They each share a sense of enthusiasm and involvement in the world. Here are some exemplary cases: Gordon Maham, who has dedicated his life to peace activism, actually had to give up some of his work; at the request of his children he agreed not to get arrested again once he turned 90. Helen Licht became blind as she aged from macular degeneration and glaucoma. She approached this ailment with a positive attitude, and began a support group in her retirement community, so that people could help each other out in their difficulties with seeing. Russ White took up competitive swimming at 65, after he retired, and in 1988 competed in the World Masters’ Meet in Australia. He came in third in three breast-stroke events, and swam a leg of a medley relay that set a new world record. White’s ambition is “to die young as late in life as possible.”

Springer summarized her interviews by creating a list of the 20 personality traits that she found most prevalent among her interviewees. The top five included: Flexibility, sense of humor, living simply, taking one day at a time, and never turning down an invitation. A significant last item was just “being lucky”.

The book inspires readers to raise the ceiling of possibilities for life in the nineties. It makes the eighties seem relatively young, not to mention the sixties and seventies. Perhaps the most elegant aspects of the book are its photographs; it did not come as a surprise to discover on the author’s page her dedication to photography. MMG

Sue Ronnenkamp writes:
I saw in the Sept/Oct Positive Aging Newsletter that the Gergen’s mentioned the article titled “Moving Beyond Place: Aging in Community” by Dr. Bill Thomas and Janice Blanchard. I was able to locate the full article and found it very interesting. I, too, believe strongly in the value of “aging in community” but in contrast to what was written in this article, I don’t believe that community is defined as, or needs to be limited to, only a small group of people. I grew up in small town of 550 people so believe a community can be any size that works for those who choose it. This also applies to older adults, many of whom are living in the good retirement communities in existence all over the country.

I’m interested in this topic because I put my own ideas for aging in community and living interdependently into a white paper last fall called “Re-Shaping the Senior Living Community.” It was aimed at the senior living industry but I have also been sharing the paper with individuals from my age (53) on up because I believe many of the issues I raise can have an impact on all of us. My older friends (from early 80’s to 90’s) have especially cheered on my efforts since they are living these issues right now.

Bruce Elkin writes:
Satchel Paige had a good take on age. He asked, “How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you were?
I like that. And I think most people would choose to be younger, at least in spirit and action.

I’m also a fan of the books Younger Next Year: A Guide to Living Like 50 Until You’re 80 and Beyond, and Younger Next Year for Women: Live Strong, Fit and Sexy – Until You’re 80 and Beyond.

Both are practical ways to get fitter, generate more energy and do the things that give you joy. They’re not about denying your age, just pushing back the myths of what people of a certain age are capable of doing. Yes! Info on both at: http://www.powells.com/s?kw=Younger+Next+Year&class=
Good stuff!
Cheers!

Every so often we have the pleasure of hearing from Georgie Bright Kunkel.
Here we share her latest update:
At age 90 I am continuing my life with a purpose of living each day to the fullest. I recently produced and presented a 70 minute show on stage at our local theater which included standup comedy, readings from my newspaper column, and a skit with a young improv comic on the Harold and Maud theme. I sing and play jazz, do public speaking throughout my area, dance whenever I have a chance and go on the local comedy stage. I have applied to Americas Got Talent to see if I can get into the audition in my area of Seattle/Tacoma. Time will tell if I am accepted. I am open to dating but as I say on the comedy stage, dating is a dilemma since women my age outnumber men and most men my age are either dead, impotent or taking Viagra and looking for younger women. But I do have male companionship even though many single women my age do not.

Readers ask if they may reprint or circulate materials published in this newsletter. We are most pleased for any expansion in circulation. You are free to use any or all that you find in the newsletter, but trust that you will acknowledge the Newsletter as the source.

BLOGS: Thebestdayofmylifesofar.blogspot.com
Facebook page with photos and stories of grandparents, and responses of their children and grandchildren. Begun as a way of having a conversation with her grandmother, this storytelling project is being carried out by Benita Cooper.

70Candles.com
A blog where women are invited to tell stories about their lives, reflections on their lives at a certain age. Begun this month by two women, Ellen and Jane, who have been friends since they were 13.

Changing Aging. Bill Thomas, creator of the Eden Alternative, now hosts a blog on the Picker Report, dedicated to promoting person-centered care by building a social network of elders, their advocates, care givers and families. Learn more at: http://changingaging.org/2010/09/28/3690/

March 26-27, 2011 Say Yes to Life: Changing the Paradigm from Aging to Sage-ing, Albuquerque, NM. Gary Carlson, PhD and Charlotte Carlson, PhD, Jungian Analyst. A highly interactive workshop focused on the conscious aging/sage-ing model for living one's elder years more consciously, more joyfully and more compassionately. An Intensive workshop sponsored by the Sage-ing Guild. For more information, visit http://www.sage-ingguild.org/calendar/workshops.php.

May 1-7, 2011: Choosing Conscious Elderhood, Ghost Ranch, New Mexico. A retreat-center based rite of passage for people who seek to deepen their experience of purpose, passion and call to service. Retreat includes a day of solitude in a powerful landscape setting made famous by artist Georgia O’Keefe, as well as ceremony, council
and conscious eldering practices. This retreat, offered since 2002, is co-sponsored by the Sage-ing Guild and the Center for Conscious Eldering. For more information, visit: http://www.centerforconsciouseldering.com

July 9-15, 2011, 2001 Summer Institute on Aging Research Annual Workshop. Queenstown, MD. Weeklong workshop for investigators new to aging research. Support available. Applications due March 4, 2011. http://ww.nia.nih.gov Or email Taylor_Harden@nih.gov.

October 16-17, 2011: Aging with Passion & Purpose: A Biennial Conference on Aging. University of Nebraska at Omaha. For registration, info www.champsonline.info or call 402-895-2224.

We are sending our newsletter from a new distribution point, and we hope you are able to receive it without difficulty. Please email me, Mary Gergen gv4@psu.edu if you have any trouble opening or reading it.

Questions & Feedback
If you have any questions, or material you'd like to share with other newsletter readers,
please e-mail Mary Gergen at gv4@psu.edu

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In the last issue of the Newsletter we discussed positive aging as a skill. As we reasoned, if aging is to be a positive period of growth, new and important skills are required. One of these skills is that of creating positive memories. On the face of it, this may sound odd. After all, we traditionally believe, memory is memory. It simply functions to record what has happened to us. If we have positive experiences we will have positive memories; if we have suffered on many occasions, our memories will reflect this fact. Recent decades of research on memory refutes such a view. Rather, we find, memory is highly elastic. What we recall about past events can shift dramatically from one context to another. How often do siblings recall something that happened to them in childhood, only to find out that it happened to a brother or sister? If the conditions are right, people can be induced to recall a crime they have committed, even though they never did so. In effect, memory is not simply a child of the past; we have some control over what we carry with us in the way of personal history.

As we move into the later years of life, issues of memory are particularly acute. Increasingly we come to understand ourselves in terms of our past lives, for example, what we have accomplished, contributed to, overcome, or experienced as joy or pleasure. Conversely, we confront our failures, missed opportunities, sorrows, and pain. Whether we are comforted and inspired, on the one hand, or suffer guilt, remorse, or a sense of emptiness on the other, depends on our capacity to cultivate our memories. Are we sufficiently skillful to maximize the former, and minimize the latter. If we “do it right,” our memories of the past can buoy our spirits, kindle our enthusiasms, and furnish a supportive sense of purpose. If we simply let “the past be the past,” we may well find ourselves uninspired, alienated, and depressed.

We do not have a convenient check-list for cultivating positive memories. Much like painting in oils, people find many different ways of reaching desired ends. Ideally, there should be ways of drawing widely from each others’ experiences. Perhaps the internet will ultimately provide a means of exchanging our grass-roots knacks for living well. In the meantime, we offer several suggestions from our own collective experiences:

Telling stories. Our understanding of our pasts is largely generated through the way we talk about it – both to others and ourselves. These narratives will highlight certain details and obliterate others; they will emphasize certain outcomes and suppress others; they will create the value that we place on the past. Thus, to tell good stories to others about what has happened to us is to generate a positive resource for living. We often do this together after we have been on trips. We review the journey specifically in terms of what we enjoyed or learned or felt good about; we simply don’t talk about the frustrations and failures. At the same time, it is also possible to take a calamity or failure and turn it into amusement for family or friends. Sometimes when we confront troubles, we say to each other, “What a great story this will make.” Calamity is reconstructed as a social resource.

Sorting images. Often our records of the past are sustained with images – photographs and films. Such images vary enormously in the feelings they elicit. On the one hand, we may shudder to see how we looked on a given occasion, or recall how badly the pictured event turned out. Other images generate a sense of happiness, love, pride, and so on. All image archives are necessarily selective. The challenge is to select out for the long-term those images that sustain a positive or meaningful register of living. (When our children were young, we discarded photographs in which one or more of them looked particularly unsightly or miserable. We didn’t want to encourage any sad stories of how they grew up.)

Displaying artifacts. In the same way that narratives and images create a particular sense of the past, so do various artifacts –art objects, souvenirs, medals, books, fabrics, and so on. A room with bare walls and nothing in the way of curious objects is a room that destroys history. The psychoanalyst Carl Jung once reasoned that the objects and images about us can be extremely important in their capacity to evoke the past and enrich the present. In effect, they can generate a sense of the past that is supportive and sustaining.

What are the factors that help us age “successfully”? Is there anything we can do right now to help us age more successfully? These questions are at the heart of a large study of over 5,000 people from New Jersey, ages 50-74, who were able to engage in a one hour telephone interview between 2006 and 2008. The sample included about 3,000 women and 2,000 men; their average age was 60; their educational attainment averaged 2 years of college. Participants were asked three questions regarding successful aging. How successfully have they aged? How well are they aging? And how they would rate their life these days? In each case they could rate themselves from 0 to 10.

Interestingly, on all three questions their average score was 7.8. Not bad in terms of how well they were doing in terms of their own sense of aging. However, researchers found that both early life and contemporary influences affected how successfully they were. Of the early influences, the most important factors were level of formal education, and whether or not one had been incarcerated. Greater formal education correlated with more successful aging; having been to prison decreased this likelihood. Whether or not one had children did not influence one’s aging success.

Current life influences were also highly significant in predicting successful aging. For example, never marrying is not a deficit if the person has adequate social support. Among the most successful were those who were married, working for pay and/or volunteering, and moderate consumers of alcohol. They also tended to do more cardiovascular exercise and had better social support. People who were religious rated themselves as more successful at aging.

The researchers cautioned against drawing firm conclusions from self-reports of successful aging. Some members of the sample did not measure well on other measures used in the study, and yet they described themselves as doing well.

In earlier issues of the Newsletter we have reported several studies reporting greater relational satisfaction among the elderly than their younger counterparts. The present research extends and expands understanding of this pattern. In this case researchers asked a sample of 1,675 couples, middle aged and older, on two occasions (4 years apart) to evaluate their relationships. All were married or had partners.

Most interestingly, older adults, particularly older men, were more likely to rate their relationship as supportive, and less likely to rate their relationship as aversive, in comparison to middle aged adults. Older women were somewhat less likely to rate their relationships this way, although they were still quite positive about their relationships. Researchers note that women tend to be more involved in friendship and family relationships and are somewhat less dependent upon their partners for emotional support than men are. The younger people were more likely to provide ambivalent or indifferent assessments of their relationships.

As the researchers also concluded, the older people tended to avoid negative emotional experiences and focus on positive ones. This encourages positive evaluations of their intimate relationships. Middle-aged people are less likely to focus positively on their spouses.

For those who love gardening it will come as little surprise to learn that such activity is now being used for therapeutic purposes. Why did it take so long, one might ask. In any case, people being trained to work with the elderly, and particularly those diagnosed with dementia, emotional problems, autism and other diseases, are learning to give them opportunities to grow things. As therapists see it, working with plants can be healing, not just physically, but psychologically. Roger S. Ulrich, a director of the Center for Health Systems & Design at Texas A&M University has found that simply looking out a hospital window at greenery, water, or flowers, or even images of these things, can lower stress and hasten recovery from surgery. For dementia patients, horticultural therapy improves concentration, cognitive functioning and a sense of well-being. Peg Schofied, who works with people with dementia, believes that “we are reducing stress, they’re peaceful and calm, they feel they’ve accomplished something. I know this has meaning for these folks, and that is the point.”

Kansas State University was the first to offer a bachelor’s degree in horticultural therapy, and Rutgers University does now as well. Certification programs are also available at various schools. Jack Carman, a faculty member of Temple University’s “hort therapy” certificate program and landscape architect, specializes in designing therapeutic gardens for senior communities and health-care facilities. He believes that gardens should be enclosed for safety; filled with nontoxic, colorful plants, and have paths and furniture that accommodates walkers and wheelchairs. Bird feeders, fountains, and benches, should all be sensually engaging and appropriate for the region. For more information on horticultural therapy, go to the American Horticultural Therapy Association website at http://www.ahta.org

From: Horticultural Therapy: In the Gardening Moment by Virginia A. Smith. Philadelphia Inquirer, November 26, 2010, E1,E8. DAILY CHECK-LIST FOR HEALTH
Dr. OZ, a tv personality and noted heart surgeon, devotes most of his career now to trying to prevent people from needing heart surgery. He has been inspired by many people, including his wife, Lisa, who has brought a respect for non-western medicine into his world. Among his various recommendations is his list of activities that people should do everyday:

Walk 30 minutes.

Drink two cups of green tea

Take vitamin D and calcium

Sleep 7-8 hours a night

Meditate for 5 minutes

Although this isn’t everything Dr. Oz recommends, it certainly provides a good start.

From: Dr. Oz’s 6 –month plan for getting healthy. AARP Magazine, May-June, 2010, pg. 34.
FEAR NOT THE AGING POPULATION
We have all heard about the aging of the population and the fears this causes, among younger people, especially. “How are we, younger, and fewer, going to pay for these growing numbers of older folks,” they ask. “They are going to ‘break the bank.’” Part of this problem results from a flawed model of aging and health. The traditional measure divides the proportion of the population 65 and older, by the number of working age people under 64. This indicator assumes that people over 65 become societal burdens, who need the care and resources of those who work, in order to survive. However, the good news is that as life expectancy has increased, the number of years spent in good health has been increasing as well. For example, in the United States, the proportion of disabled people 65-74 declined from 14% in 1982 to 9% in 2004. This shift has implications for health care costs, because most of these costs occur in the last few years of life. Thus it remains an optimistic secret that as the retirement age increases, and as people become increasingly healthy and mobile, the costs to the society will be far less than the worriers predict. It is time to share the secret.

We wish to thank John Tamiazzo for creating a book review for our newsletter, and hope that his book will find many readers among us.Returning to the Land of Oz: Finding Hope, Love, and Courage on Your Yellow Brick Road
Following in the footsteps of Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and Cowardly Lion, Returning to the Land of Oz takes a fresh psychological look at the important lessons we can learn from this marvelous tale written by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W.W. Denslow in 1900. The 1939 film has been viewed by over 2 billion people world-wide and has been voted the favorite family film of all time.

L. Frank Baum, Sigmund Freud, and W.W. Denslow were born just 10 days apart in the month May, 1856. In the 1890’s, Freud was writing about free association, analytical psychology and dream interpretation. During this same time, L. Frank Baum was engaged in successfully writing children’s books. His most famous were Mother Goose in Prose, illustrated by Maxfield Parrish, and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. For the latter, his protagonist was a delightful little girl who courageously found her way to the Wizard of Oz, won her freedom from bondage from the Wicked Witch, and returned safely home with the help of the friends she met along the way.
Through an exploration of symbolism and metaphor, John A.

Tamiazzo’s Returning to the Land of Oz shows readers how to masterfully use the power of the mind and wisdom of imagination to age graciously and to live life to the fullest. It illustrates the healthiness of play, the fulfillment of moving through life with an open heart, and the empowerment we experience by drawing upon our inner courage and resourcefulness. Returning to the Land of Oz helps readers to see that our all of us are on our own Yellow Brick Roads, on our magical way to see the Wizard, and to claim what is rightfully ours.

Returning to the Land of Oz is available at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com You can visit Dr. Tamiazzo’s blog site at www.landofozworkshops.blogspot.com
Celebrating Poets Over 70,
edited by Marianne Forsyth Vespry and Ellen B. Ryan. Reviewed by Mary Gergen
A splendid collection of poetry, chosen from a large number of entries by a panel of reviewers, this volume includes over 200 poets over the age of 70. Their talents, however, are not age-bound, nor are their topics, which range widely. Despite frequent concerns with the process of loss and death, the poetry offers new insights for acceptance or resistance to the taken-for-granted aspects of the elder years. There are many lines to choose from to illustrate the character of the volume. Here are a few stanzas of “I Don’t Do Old” by Sterling Haynes.

“I don’t do old.
god’s creativity,
and ideas light
my spirit.
art, literature
can fill me
with awe.
life is sweet,
never, I will
never age out,
I don’t do old.

A final disclosure is that the poems I wrote in celebration of my 50th High School Reunion at St. Louis Park, Minnesota are published here.

Support for the project is the McMaster University Centre for Gerontological Studies in Hamilton, Ontario.
To find out more or to order a book, check out their website at www.celebratingpoetsover70.ca

Two readers respond to our commentary on the skill of aging positively.
Marvin Shaub, from Princeton, New Jersey, writes:
When I was younger and advising those older than me how to prepare for retirement I developed a perspective that admittedly doesn't work for everyone but does for some. That is to take retirement as a time to make a fairly major change in the main activity (or activities) one has traditionally been involved with. In my own case I got my Ph.D., something I had always wanted but never did because other uses of available resources took priority. With retirement came the gift of time and other things that gave me freedom to grow, not wither away from ennui. Now I am a college professor rather than a businessman and am enjoying adjusting to the different challenges of a different life. The reasoning behind this viewpoint is that it gives one the chance to view the main activity of life as the beginning of something rather than as an ending. One's mental framework is no longer so completely dominated by questions of whether or not my health is declining, too bad I can't do such and such a thing anymore or even how long I have left. Rather I find that looking ahead to actively seeking horizons that were just scenery in a play before is stimulating. I believe this idea is related to what I read in your Newsletter all the time, that activity is good for you if you are getting older.
Franklin Olson also shares this:
Several years ago my wife Gail and I began playing golf together. Prior to playing golf together we had done a lot of hiking. But because of the side effects of prostate cancer I was unable to be out on the trail for more than about an hour without complications, so those long walks were pretty much a thing of the past. I had played some after sixty but I was terrible. I invited her to play with me and it’s been a great joy to us both. We had heard other couples talking about how they couldn’t play together, particularly because the husband was always trying to instruct his wife on the finer points of playing. This was not a problem with us. However, we made an agreement that I would not try to instruct her and she would not laugh at me when I dinked the ball. This has worked very well and since we neither one keep score we have a wonderful time being out of doors together on some very pretty courses but most of all we’ve found something that fifty years ago we’d never have thought about doing whether alone or together.

Online survey of working women with retired partners.
Are you a working woman with a partner who retired voluntarily from full-time work? If so, please complete an on-line survey and earn $20! You must be working at least 30 hours/week with a spouse or partner (with whom you live) who has voluntarily retired from full-time work and now works less than 20 hours/week. This study is approved by the Agnes Scott College review board and takes approximately 45 minutes. You will be asked to complete rating scales and open-ended questions about your relationship and home life before and after your partner's retirement. Contact Dr. Eileen Cooley in Psychology at ecooley@agnesscott.edu for a research number and the link to the study.

Readers ask if they may reprint or circulate materials published in this newsletter. We are most pleased for any expansion in circulation. You are free to use any or all that you find in the newsletter, but trust that you will acknowledge the Newsletter as the source.

Changing Aging.
Bill Thomas, creator of the Eden Alternative, now hosts a blog on the Picker Report, dedicated to promoting person-centered care by building a social network of elders, their advocates, care givers and families. Learn more at: http://changingaging.org/2010/09/28/3690/

February 5-10, 2011, Play with Purpose: Relational and Performative Practices in Everyday Life.
SEMINAR AT SEA - Event Takes Place on a Cruise Ship Leaving from Galveston, TX. Play - Learn – Improv - Perform…key themes for this upcoming event. In all our relations we must improvise. When we do it well, there is joy, harmony, and vitality. Rational planning is replaced by skills akin to creative play. Developing and enhancing these resources is the aim of this event. For information visit: www.taosinstitute.net/seminar-at-sea-overview
April 26-30, 2011: 2011 Aging in America Conference, San Francisco. www.agingconference.org for more information
Choosing Conscious Elderhood (May 1-7, Ghost Ranch, New Mexico).
A retreat-center based rite of passage for people who seek to deepen
their experience of purpose, passion and call to service. Retreat
includes a day of solitude in a powerful landscape setting made
famous by artist Georgia O’Keefe, as well as ceremony, council
and conscious eldering practices. This retreat, offered since 2002,
is co-sponsored by the Sage-ing Guild and the Center for Conscious Eldering.
For more information, visit:http://www.centerforconsciouseldering.com

July 9-15, 2011, 2001 Summer Institute on Aging Research Annual Workshop.
Queenstown, MD. Weeklong workshop for investigators new to aging research. Support available.
Applications due March 4, 2011. http://ww.nia.nih.gov Or email Taylor_Harden@nih.gov

We are sending our newsletter from a new distribution point, and we hope you are able to receive it without difficulty. Please email me, Mary Gergen: gv4@psu.edu if you have any trouble opening or reading it.

Questions & Feedback:
If you have any questions, or material you'd like to share with other newsletter readers,
please e-mail Mary Gergen at gv4@psu.edu

Past issues Past issues of the newsletter are archived at: www.positiveaging.net
We hope that you enjoy The Positive Aging Newsletter.

It is common to view the first two decades of life as the critical phase of development - when we learn the basic skills of speaking, relating, and self control, and all the secondary skills that formal education provides. The so-called middle years are those in which one uses these skills and sharpens those particularly relevant to one’s life pursuits. Then, as the story goes, people just retire and grow older. No new skills are required, and in fact, few demands are made on those they have acquired; slowly they slip away. This is not only a depressing picture of aging, it is wholly misleading. Older life is a major period of development, and its rewards may eclipse any previous period of life. If aging is to be a positive period of growth, new and important skills are required. It is to the skills of positive aging that we wish to dedicate discussion for the next two issues of the Newsletter. At the outset, it is useful to make a rough distinction between two general kinds of skills, those which expand the potentials of living and those which enable us to live with loss. In terms of expansion, think here of the child’s learning to walk, ride a bicycle, read, or save money. Each of these skills opens new vistas of possibility; life is enriched. In the case of loss, consider the way in which children must learn to give up their mother’s breast, the freedom of defecating at will, emotional outbursts, or the leisure of those years before school. And so it is with the elder years. Although rarely in the limelight, there are skills that can open new spaces of meaningful engagement, and those essential in confronting that which must be left to the past. In this issue we focus briefly on a skill of expansion. Especially relevant to those living with a long-term spouse or partner is the skill of rediscovery. We recently spoke with an acquaintance who was complaining that his wife had become a boring and indifferent woman. Why, he wondered, must he spend the rest of his life with someone who was not at all like the girl to whom he made his vows some decades earlier? Such complaints bode a gloomy future, and suggest why the divorce rates of people over 60 have been increasing of late. Obviously his spouse is not the same person, nor is he, nor are their children or friends, nor are many other things the same as the day they were married. Particularly in families with a strong division of labor or with two careers, spouses or partners may scarcely notice changes in each other until retirement. With no one else around, and time to be together, suddenly one may confront a seeming stranger. The challenge then is rediscovery. What are the possibly hidden potentials of the other, the self, and the relational dance that can now blossom? There is no easy answer to this question, but promisingly, there may be many possible answers. Here are a few that have emerged from our conversations with each other and our friends:

Seek out new contexts of relating: travel, sports, hiking, theater

Explore new relational activities: massage, cooking, gardening,

Expand personal hobbies to include the other: golf, bridge, fishing

Re-explore the past together, with particular sensitivity to possible re-ignitions of old feelings of joy and togetherness

Explore the activities you once liked to do together, but which were abandoned for lack of time

Allow one’s partner time and space for individual development and exploration, the results of which can later be shared

Be on the lookout for contexts in which you can pleasantly surprise the other. If readers would like to share their own skills of re-discovery we would be happy to pass them on in future issues of the newsletter.

Many people dread the possibility that age will bring significant physical limitations. Is such fear justified? To explore, Washington DC investigators followed a random sample of approximately 5,000 adults, over 64. What, they asked, is the relationship of one’s limitations in terms of everyday living to one’s psychological state? To what extent are such limitations related to depressive feelings in individuals? Importantly, these investigators also realized that depression is seldom an individual affair. Much depends on the social world in which one lives. Additional measures were thus added to explore the effects of social support.Participants answered questions related to their abilities to care for themselves in their own homes, including bathing, dressing, toileting, and walking and climbing stairs. They also answered questions about their feelings of well-being, and about social support. An example of a social support question was: Do you have “people around who do things they know will please you?” The results showed that the older the participant, the less depressing their physical limitations. Only the younger participants found their limitations significantly depressing. The researchers attributed this finding to the possibility that being limited at a younger age is not the norm, and an “early” decline as opposed to a normal or late decline is more distressing. Thus, the older one was, the less these limitations influenced one’s emotional state. Further, social support proved to be highly important. The greater the availability of supportive friends and family, the less the limitations made a difference to feelings of well-being. Friends and family may be the most important strands in our safety networks.

From: Timing social support and the effects of physical limitations on psychological distress in late life by Alex Bierman & Denise Statland. Journal of Gerontology, Social Sciences, 65B, 631-639.

A truism in American gerontological literature is that most Americans want to remain in their homes for as long as possible. They do not want to move to a retirement community or old age residence. Many projects related to aging are now designed to fulfill this dream. The authors of this article take another perspective. They chide people who hold living in place as the ultimate social good, and suggest instead that for many people, this goal is a mirage or a fantasy. “The bitter truth is that an older person can succeed at remaining in her or his own home and still live a life as empty and difficult as that experienced by nursing home residents. Feeling compelled to stay in one’s home, no matter what, can result in dwindling choices and mounting levels of loneliness, helplessness, and boredom.” The authors suggest that what is important is the actual quality of life one experiences, and not where it is lived. They suggest that the challenge is to find another way to maximize the diversity of facets that a good life includes. The first step is to debunk the old American virtue of idealized independence and rugged individualism, which supports the notion that living alone at home is the ideal choice. Instead they suggest a third option they call, Aging in Community. This approach involves the creation of “intentional communities.” These living arrangements may be quite varied, but the idea is to create custom communities that combine private living quarters with shared communal spaces, such as dining room, library, laundry, and other communal spaces, such as lawns, pools, porches, and studios. Such communities are usually founded on similar spiritual, social or political beliefs or other shared values or commitments. They include co-housing, communes, eco-villages, ashrams, kibbutzim, and cooperative housing. The co-housing arrangement is usually composed of 30 homes, with shared facilities, and shared responsibilities and resources. Today there are about 113 of these in the U. S. There are also spontaneous communities, such as the well-known Beacon Hill neighborhood in Boston, in which neighbors came together to form a non-profit organization that helps support people living in their own homes. Included are systems for collaborating and helping one another to live almost independently. (Certainly the spirit of individualism is alive and well in Boston, if somewhat modified by current conditions and goals.) As the authors point out, such collaborative living arrangements are highly effective and much less costly than nursing home care, which depends on public finances to operate. Multigenerational living is also encouraged because each generation has something of value to offer the others, and living together may solve many problems that living segregated cannot. With the expanded numbers of the elderly, it is indeed time for such innovation. Elders today are forging a new future.

From: Moving beyond Place: Aging in Community by William H. Thomas and Janice M. Blanchard. Generations: Journal of the American Society on Aging. Summer 2009, 12-17.

A 20-year long study of over 6,000 Americans asked the question: How does working as a volunteer on environmental issues affect one’s health, physical activity and feelings of well-being? In 1974 these middle-aged participants described their involvement in volunteer activities such as participating in ecological restoration projects, environmental stewardship programs, and environmental policy-making activities. Twenty years later, they were evaluated as to their levels of physical activity, self-reported health and depressive symptoms. After controlling for a number of factors, the researchers found that people who were involved in these volunteer activities were more active, healthier and more upbeat than those who were not. Nature benefitted, and so did the volunteers. Researchers speculated that in addition to the oft-demonstrated advantages of volunteer work, there is a special advantage to working in nature. It is physically engaging and simultaneously restful. Related research supports this idea by showing that being in nature reduces stress and enhances feelings of well-being. Other research compared volunteers for environmental work with those volunteering for other kinds of activities (e.g. hospitals, churches, shelters). Volunteers in general were almost 2 times more likely to meet the Centers for Disease Control guidelines for physical activity, than non-volunteers. However environmental volunteers were 2.6 times more likely to do so. Other researchers across the globe have also found that various health-related benefits accrue to people of all ages who are exposed to nature. So clearly, it’s good for your health to get away from the computer, the cell phone and the fax, and go take a walk. Even better, find ways of contributing to environmental care.

SUSTAINING COMMUNICATION WITH SONG
A colleague’s wife suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease for 12 years before she died. During the later stages of her disease, when she could no longer recognize her husband or her children, and when most of her other intellectual faculties had greatly diminished, her love of music persisted. An hour a week, a friend from church came with a CD player, and together they sang her favorite hymns from her youth. She remembered the words and the tunes, despite all of her other losses. Because we knew this story, we took particular interest in an article by Sara Davidson in the New York Times. As Davidson reported, researchers and clinicians are finding that when all other means of communication have shut down, people remember and respond to music. Familiar songs can help people with dementia relate to others, move more easily, be more relaxed, and experience positive emotions. Kate Gfeller, who directs the graduate music therapy program at the University of Iowa, published a study in the Journal of Music Therapy indicating that activities like moving to music, playing rhythm instruments, and singing led to more group involvement and less wandering and disruptive behavior among 51 patients with dementia in five nursing facilities. Other studies demonstrate that music therapy can slow the progress of Alzheimer’s, relieve pain and create emotional intimacy. Music is also helpful with other bodily limitations. In a study published by the American Society of Neuro-rehabilitation, music therapy and conventional physical therapy were given to two groups of stroke victims who could barely walk. The group who received music therapy showed greater improvement in walking in a shorter period of time than those getting physical therapy. People especially respond to music that had special meaning for them earlier in their lives. Sara Davidson, from whom we are drawing this material, recalled visiting her grandfather when he was hospitalized with dementia, lying in bed, unable to talk. “I started singing a Hungarian song he’d learned as a youth and later taught to me, ‘Territch-ka.’ I sang the verse and when I stopped, he opened his mouth and sang the chorus: ‘Yoy, Territch-ka!’ Right on key.” She also commented that her daughter, a music therapist, was looking ahead with optimism. ‘Boomers will be the next generation in the nursing facilities. … Your generation will be awesome — we’ll get to play the Beatles.’

From: The Songs They Can’t Forget by Sara Davidson New York Times, April 23, 2010, blog.

UP WITH LIGHT WEIGHTS
Most health experts these days are counseling older people to lift weights to maintain their muscular strength and energy. Given that most of us thought that weight lifting was for Bulgarian men and teenage boys, it is hard to know what to do and how. Today weights are sold in sporting goods stores, and it is possible to get weights that weigh one pound or 50. Most people might think that they should take the heaviest weights that they can lift, but this is not necessarily so, and that is good news for most of us. A recent study done at McMaster University in Canada found that it is not the amount of weight lifted that matters for building larger muscles, but the muscular fatigue that occurs. Growing bigger muscles means stimulating them to produce more muscle fiber. The bad news is that you must exercise until you can’t do another repetition; that is what builds muscle. Overall, people who used lighter weights gained more muscle mass than those who used heavier ones.

HONORING ROBERT BUTLER, 1927-2010“After one has lived a life of meaning, death may lose much of its terror, for what we fear most is not really death, but a meaningless and absurd life.”

Known widely and with great affection, Robert N. Butler, a diplomat and scientist who promoted the interests of older people, died recently. Among his contributions to gerontology was his invention of the term, “Ageism” to describe elder discrimination, and he encouraged the development of “life review” as a means to honor the tendency of older people to enjoy discussing their personal stories of living. He was the founding director of the National Institute of Health’s National Institute on Aging, and was an advocate before the Congress, the United Nations, and various psychiatric organizations. He wrote a Pulitzer Prize winning book, Why Survive? Being Old in America, as well as The Longevity Revolution and The Longevity Prescription, which encouraged people to live vigorous lives. This Newsletter lives in the shadow of his words: “The social construct of old age, even the inner life and activities of older persons, is now subject to a positive revision.” As well as being a change-agent who greatly benefited our conceptions of aging, he has been lauded by colleagues, students, and others for his brilliance and kindness, and his willingness to share himself with others.

Women and Therapy in the Last Third of Lifeedited by Valorie Mitchell, New York: Routledge

In this edited volume, women involved with gerontology, most of whom are therapists, write about their experiences, personal and professional, as they enter and inhabit the last third of life. Many are also engaged in university teaching and have written numerous books on psychological topics.

Throughout the book, authors describe case studies with clients, emphasizing how age plays a role in the therapeutic process. The therapists come from diverse orientations – Zen Buddhism, psychoanalysis, religion, feminism, and Jungian analysis, among others. A recognition of the social and cultural factors in the psychotherapeutic relationship is a significant aspect of the message of these chapters as well. A central theme of the book is that as one ages, a greater sense of freedom and personal authority is discovered along the way. This perspective influences the ways in which aging ripens the therapist, giving her a sense of potential to create with her clients new ways of going forward that are not bound by the edicts of their professional discipline. This freedom to become is also encouraged for clients who are confronting issues of aging. For therapist and client there is a new sense of possibility emerging as they co-create the future together. As a personal disclosure, I have contributed a chapter “Framing lives: Therapy with women of a ‘certain age,’ which describes the powerful and negative stereotypes of aging women prevalent in our society, and encourages therapists to be wary of these stereotypes, to resist them with their clients, and to help them build more positive alternatives. This book is especially relevant to therapists seeking guidance and illumination about their work in the later years. MMG

Readers ask if they may reprint or circulate materials published in this newsletter. We are most pleased for any expansion in circulation. You are free to use any or all that you find in the newsletter, but trust that you will acknowledge the Newsletter as the source.

CHANGING AGING. Bill Thomas, creator of the Eden Alternative, now hosts a blog on the Picker Report, dedicated to promoting person-centered care by building a social network of elders, their advocates, care givers and families. Learn more at: http://changingaging.org/2010/09/28/3690/

November 19-23, 2010: The Gerontological Society of America. Annual Scientific Meeting, Across the Aging Continuum, New Orleans, LA www.geron.org/2010

Dec. 7-10, 2010: The Fourth Annual Positive Aging Conference will be held in Los Angeles, sponsored by the Fielding Graduate University, with Marc Freedman and George Vaillant as speakers. Submissions are invited for presentations on themes including later life creativity, civic engagement, community, spirituality, lifelong learning, and work in the second half of life. For more information about the Conference, visit: http://www.positiveaging.fielding.edu
February 5-10, 2011: Play with Purpose: Relational and Performative Practices in Everyday Life. Come join us for a SEMINAR AT SEA - Event Takes Place on a Cruise Ship Leaving from Galveston, TX. Play - Learn – Improv - Perform…key themes for this upcoming event. In all our relations we must improvise. When we do it well, there is joy, harmony, and vitality. Rational planning is replaced by skills akin to creative play. Developing and enhancing these resources is the aim of this event. For information visit: www.taosinstitute.net/seminar-at-sea-overview (Deadline for registration is November 15, as the ship is almost sold out.)

We are sending our newsletter from a new distribution point, and we hope you are able to receive it without difficulty.
Please email me, Mary Gergen gv4@psu.edu if you have any trouble opening or reading it.

Questions & Feedback
If you have any questions, or material you'd like to share with other newsletter readers,
please e-mail Mary Gergen at gv4@psu.edu - Past issues of the newsletter are archived at: www.positiveaging.net
How to subscribe, unsubscribe or change your e-mail address. We hope that you enjoy The Positive Aging Newsletter.

]]>September/October, 2010
THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER
The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen,
dedicated to productive dialogue between research and practice.
Sponsored by the Taos Institute http://www.taosinstitute.net
"THE BEST IN…INSIGHTS IN AGING"
Wall Street Journal
Issue No 64
COMMENTARY:
The Skills of Positive Aging
RESEARCH:
Lifting the Burden of Limitations
Aging in Community
Care for Nature: Care for Self
IN THE NEWS:
Sustaining Communication with Song
Up with Light Weights
Honoring Robert N. Butler, 1927-2010
BOOK REVIEWS:
Women and Therapy in the Last Third of Life, Valorie Mitchell (Ed.)
OPEN INVITATION
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Information for Readers
COMMENTARY - The Skills of Positive Aging
It is common to view the first two decades of life as the critical phase of development - when we learn the basic skills of speaking, relating, and self control, and all the secondary skills that formal education provides. The so-called middle years are those in which one uses these skills and sharpens those particularly relevant to one’s life pursuits. Then, as the story goes, people just retire and grow older. No new skills are required, and in fact, few demands are made on those they have acquired; slowly they slip away. This is not only a depressing picture of aging, it is wholly misleading. Older life is a major period of development, and its rewards may eclipse any previous period of life. If aging is to be a positive period of growth, new and important skills are required. It is to the skills of positive aging that we wish to dedicate discussion for the next two issues of the Newsletter. At the outset, it is useful to make a rough distinction between two general kinds of skills, those which expand the potentials of living and those which enable us to live with loss. In terms of expansion, think here of the child’s learning to walk, ride a bicycle, read, or save money. Each of these skills opens new vistas of possibility; life is enriched. In the case of loss, consider the way in which children must learn to give up their mother’s breast, the freedom of defecating at will, emotional outbursts, or the leisure of those years before school. And so it is with the elder years. Although rarely in the limelight, there are skills that can open new spaces of meaningful engagement, and those essential in confronting that which must be left to the past. In this issue we focus briefly on a skill of expansion. Especially relevant to those living with a long-term spouse or partner is the skill of rediscovery. We recently spoke with an acquaintance who was complaining that his wife had become a boring and indifferent woman. Why, he wondered, must he spend the rest of his life with someone who was not at all like the girl to whom he made his vows some decades earlier? Such complaints bode a gloomy future, and suggest why the divorce rates of people over 60 have been increasing of late. Obviously his spouse is not the same person, nor is he, nor are their children or friends, nor are many other things the same as the day they were married. Particularly in families with a strong division of labor or with two careers, spouses or partners may scarcely notice changes in each other until retirement. With no one else around, and time to be together, suddenly one may confront a seeming stranger. The challenge then is rediscovery. What are the possibly hidden potentials of the other, the self, and the relational dance that can now blossom? There is no easy answer to this question, but promisingly, there may be many possible answers. Here are a few that have emerged from our conversations with each other and our friends:
Seek out new contexts of relating: travel, sports, hiking, theater
Explore new relational activities: massage, cooking, gardening,
Expand personal hobbies to include the other: golf, bridge,September/October, 2010

THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER

The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen,
dedicated to productive dialogue between research and practice.
Sponsored by the Taos Institute http://www.taosinstitute.net

It is common to view the first two decades of life as the critical phase of development - when we learn the basic skills of speaking, relating, and self control, and all the secondary skills that formal education provides. The so-called middle years are those in which one uses these skills and sharpens those particularly relevant to one’s life pursuits. Then, as the story goes, people just retire and grow older. No new skills are required, and in fact, few demands are made on those they have acquired; slowly they slip away. This is not only a depressing picture of aging, it is wholly misleading. Older life is a major period of development, and its rewards may eclipse any previous period of life. If aging is to be a positive period of growth, new and important skills are required. It is to the skills of positive aging that we wish to dedicate discussion for the next two issues of the Newsletter. At the outset, it is useful to make a rough distinction between two general kinds of skills, those which expand the potentials of living and those which enable us to live with loss. In terms of expansion, think here of the child’s learning to walk, ride a bicycle, read, or save money. Each of these skills opens new vistas of possibility; life is enriched. In the case of loss, consider the way in which children must learn to give up their mother’s breast, the freedom of defecating at will, emotional outbursts, or the leisure of those years before school. And so it is with the elder years. Although rarely in the limelight, there are skills that can open new spaces of meaningful engagement, and those essential in confronting that which must be left to the past. In this issue we focus briefly on a skill of expansion. Especially relevant to those living with a long-term spouse or partner is the skill of rediscovery. We recently spoke with an acquaintance who was complaining that his wife had become a boring and indifferent woman. Why, he wondered, must he spend the rest of his life with someone who was not at all like the girl to whom he made his vows some decades earlier? Such complaints bode a gloomy future, and suggest why the divorce rates of people over 60 have been increasing of late. Obviously his spouse is not the same person, nor is he, nor are their children or friends, nor are many other things the same as the day they were married. Particularly in families with a strong division of labor or with two careers, spouses or partners may scarcely notice changes in each other until retirement. With no one else around, and time to be together, suddenly one may confront a seeming stranger. The challenge then is rediscovery. What are the possibly hidden potentials of the other, the self, and the relational dance that can now blossom? There is no easy answer to this question, but promisingly, there may be many possible answers. Here are a few that have emerged from our conversations with each other and our friends:

Seek out new contexts of relating: travel, sports, hiking, theater

Explore new relational activities: massage, cooking, gardening,

Expand personal hobbies to include the other: golf, bridge, fishing

Re-explore the past together, with particular sensitivity to possible re-ignitions of old feelings of joy and togetherness

Explore the activities you once liked to do together, but which were abandoned for lack of time

Allow one’s partner time and space for individual development and exploration, the results of which can later be shared

Be on the lookout for contexts in which you can pleasantly surprise the other. If readers would like to share their own skills of re-discovery we would be happy to pass them on in future issues of the newsletter.

Many people dread the possibility that age will bring significant physical limitations. Is such fear justified? To explore, Washington DC investigators followed a random sample of approximately 5,000 adults, over 64. What, they asked, is the relationship of one’s limitations in terms of everyday living to one’s psychological state? To what extent are such limitations related to depressive feelings in individuals? Importantly, these investigators also realized that depression is seldom an individual affair. Much depends on the social world in which one lives. Additional measures were thus added to explore the effects of social support.Participants answered questions related to their abilities to care for themselves in their own homes, including bathing, dressing, toileting, and walking and climbing stairs. They also answered questions about their feelings of well-being, and about social support. An example of a social support question was: Do you have “people around who do things they know will please you?” The results showed that the older the participant, the less depressing their physical limitations. Only the younger participants found their limitations significantly depressing. The researchers attributed this finding to the possibility that being limited at a younger age is not the norm, and an “early” decline as opposed to a normal or late decline is more distressing. Thus, the older one was, the less these limitations influenced one’s emotional state. Further, social support proved to be highly important. The greater the availability of supportive friends and family, the less the limitations made a difference to feelings of well-being. Friends and family may be the most important strands in our safety networks.

From: Timing social support and the effects of physical limitations on psychological distress in late life by Alex Bierman & Denise Statland. Journal of Gerontology, Social Sciences, 65B, 631-639.

A truism in American gerontological literature is that most Americans want to remain in their homes for as long as possible. They do not want to move to a retirement community or old age residence. Many projects related to aging are now designed to fulfill this dream. The authors of this article take another perspective. They chide people who hold living in place as the ultimate social good, and suggest instead that for many people, this goal is a mirage or a fantasy. “The bitter truth is that an older person can succeed at remaining in her or his own home and still live a life as empty and difficult as that experienced by nursing home residents. Feeling compelled to stay in one’s home, no matter what, can result in dwindling choices and mounting levels of loneliness, helplessness, and boredom.” The authors suggest that what is important is the actual quality of life one experiences, and not where it is lived. They suggest that the challenge is to find another way to maximize the diversity of facets that a good life includes. The first step is to debunk the old American virtue of idealized independence and rugged individualism, which supports the notion that living alone at home is the ideal choice. Instead they suggest a third option they call, Aging in Community. This approach involves the creation of “intentional communities.” These living arrangements may be quite varied, but the idea is to create custom communities that combine private living quarters with shared communal spaces, such as dining room, library, laundry, and other communal spaces, such as lawns, pools, porches, and studios. Such communities are usually founded on similar spiritual, social or political beliefs or other shared values or commitments. They include co-housing, communes, eco-villages, ashrams, kibbutzim, and cooperative housing. The co-housing arrangement is usually composed of 30 homes, with shared facilities, and shared responsibilities and resources. Today there are about 113 of these in the U. S. There are also spontaneous communities, such as the well-known Beacon Hill neighborhood in Boston, in which neighbors came together to form a non-profit organization that helps support people living in their own homes. Included are systems for collaborating and helping one another to live almost independently. (Certainly the spirit of individualism is alive and well in Boston, if somewhat modified by current conditions and goals.) As the authors point out, such collaborative living arrangements are highly effective and much less costly than nursing home care, which depends on public finances to operate. Multigenerational living is also encouraged because each generation has something of value to offer the others, and living together may solve many problems that living segregated cannot. With the expanded numbers of the elderly, it is indeed time for such innovation. Elders today are forging a new future.

From: Moving beyond Place: Aging in Community by William H. Thomas and Janice M. Blanchard. Generations: Journal of the American Society on Aging. Summer 2009, 12-17.

A 20-year long study of over 6,000 Americans asked the question: How does working as a volunteer on environmental issues affect one’s health, physical activity and feelings of well-being? In 1974 these middle-aged participants described their involvement in volunteer activities such as participating in ecological restoration projects, environmental stewardship programs, and environmental policy-making activities. Twenty years later, they were evaluated as to their levels of physical activity, self-reported health and depressive symptoms. After controlling for a number of factors, the researchers found that people who were involved in these volunteer activities were more active, healthier and more upbeat than those who were not. Nature benefitted, and so did the volunteers. Researchers speculated that in addition to the oft-demonstrated advantages of volunteer work, there is a special advantage to working in nature. It is physically engaging and simultaneously restful. Related research supports this idea by showing that being in nature reduces stress and enhances feelings of well-being. Other research compared volunteers for environmental work with those volunteering for other kinds of activities (e.g. hospitals, churches, shelters). Volunteers in general were almost 2 times more likely to meet the Centers for Disease Control guidelines for physical activity, than non-volunteers. However environmental volunteers were 2.6 times more likely to do so. Other researchers across the globe have also found that various health-related benefits accrue to people of all ages who are exposed to nature. So clearly, it’s good for your health to get away from the computer, the cell phone and the fax, and go take a walk. Even better, find ways of contributing to environmental care.

SUSTAINING COMMUNICATION WITH SONG
A colleague’s wife suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease for 12 years before she died. During the later stages of her disease, when she could no longer recognize her husband or her children, and when most of her other intellectual faculties had greatly diminished, her love of music persisted. An hour a week, a friend from church came with a CD player, and together they sang her favorite hymns from her youth. She remembered the words and the tunes, despite all of her other losses. Because we knew this story, we took particular interest in an article by Sara Davidson in the New York Times. As Davidson reported, researchers and clinicians are finding that when all other means of communication have shut down, people remember and respond to music. Familiar songs can help people with dementia relate to others, move more easily, be more relaxed, and experience positive emotions. Kate Gfeller, who directs the graduate music therapy program at the University of Iowa, published a study in the Journal of Music Therapy indicating that activities like moving to music, playing rhythm instruments, and singing led to more group involvement and less wandering and disruptive behavior among 51 patients with dementia in five nursing facilities. Other studies demonstrate that music therapy can slow the progress of Alzheimer’s, relieve pain and create emotional intimacy. Music is also helpful with other bodily limitations. In a study published by the American Society of Neuro-rehabilitation, music therapy and conventional physical therapy were given to two groups of stroke victims who could barely walk. The group who received music therapy showed greater improvement in walking in a shorter period of time than those getting physical therapy. People especially respond to music that had special meaning for them earlier in their lives. Sara Davidson, from whom we are drawing this material, recalled visiting her grandfather when he was hospitalized with dementia, lying in bed, unable to talk. “I started singing a Hungarian song he’d learned as a youth and later taught to me, ‘Territch-ka.’ I sang the verse and when I stopped, he opened his mouth and sang the chorus: ‘Yoy, Territch-ka!’ Right on key.” She also commented that her daughter, a music therapist, was looking ahead with optimism. ‘Boomers will be the next generation in the nursing facilities. … Your generation will be awesome — we’ll get to play the Beatles.’

From: The Songs They Can’t Forget by Sara Davidson New York Times, April 23, 2010, blog.

UP WITH LIGHT WEIGHTS
Most health experts these days are counseling older people to lift weights to maintain their muscular strength and energy. Given that most of us thought that weight lifting was for Bulgarian men and teenage boys, it is hard to know what to do and how. Today weights are sold in sporting goods stores, and it is possible to get weights that weigh one pound or 50. Most people might think that they should take the heaviest weights that they can lift, but this is not necessarily so, and that is good news for most of us. A recent study done at McMaster University in Canada found that it is not the amount of weight lifted that matters for building larger muscles, but the muscular fatigue that occurs. Growing bigger muscles means stimulating them to produce more muscle fiber. The bad news is that you must exercise until you can’t do another repetition; that is what builds muscle. Overall, people who used lighter weights gained more muscle mass than those who used heavier ones.

HONORING ROBERT BUTLER, 1927-2010“After one has lived a life of meaning, death may lose much of its terror, for what we fear most is not really death, but a meaningless and absurd life.”

Known widely and with great affection, Robert N. Butler, a diplomat and scientist who promoted the interests of older people, died recently. Among his contributions to gerontology was his invention of the term, “Ageism” to describe elder discrimination, and he encouraged the development of “life review” as a means to honor the tendency of older people to enjoy discussing their personal stories of living. He was the founding director of the National Institute of Health’s National Institute on Aging, and was an advocate before the Congress, the United Nations, and various psychiatric organizations. He wrote a Pulitzer Prize winning book, Why Survive? Being Old in America, as well as The Longevity Revolution and The Longevity Prescription, which encouraged people to live vigorous lives. This Newsletter lives in the shadow of his words: “The social construct of old age, even the inner life and activities of older persons, is now subject to a positive revision.” As well as being a change-agent who greatly benefited our conceptions of aging, he has been lauded by colleagues, students, and others for his brilliance and kindness, and his willingness to share himself with others.

Women and Therapy in the Last Third of Lifeedited by Valorie Mitchell, New York: Routledge

In this edited volume, women involved with gerontology, most of whom are therapists, write about their experiences, personal and professional, as they enter and inhabit the last third of life. Many are also engaged in university teaching and have written numerous books on psychological topics.

Throughout the book, authors describe case studies with clients, emphasizing how age plays a role in the therapeutic process. The therapists come from diverse orientations – Zen Buddhism, psychoanalysis, religion, feminism, and Jungian analysis, among others. A recognition of the social and cultural factors in the psychotherapeutic relationship is a significant aspect of the message of these chapters as well. A central theme of the book is that as one ages, a greater sense of freedom and personal authority is discovered along the way. This perspective influences the ways in which aging ripens the therapist, giving her a sense of potential to create with her clients new ways of going forward that are not bound by the edicts of their professional discipline. This freedom to become is also encouraged for clients who are confronting issues of aging. For therapist and client there is a new sense of possibility emerging as they co-create the future together. As a personal disclosure, I have contributed a chapter “Framing lives: Therapy with women of a ‘certain age,’ which describes the powerful and negative stereotypes of aging women prevalent in our society, and encourages therapists to be wary of these stereotypes, to resist them with their clients, and to help them build more positive alternatives. This book is especially relevant to therapists seeking guidance and illumination about their work in the later years. MMG

Readers ask if they may reprint or circulate materials published in this newsletter. We are most pleased for any expansion in circulation. You are free to use any or all that you find in the newsletter, but trust that you will acknowledge the Newsletter as the source.

CHANGING AGING. Bill Thomas, creator of the Eden Alternative, now hosts a blog on the Picker Report, dedicated to promoting person-centered care by building a social network of elders, their advocates, care givers and families. Learn more at: http://changingaging.org/2010/09/28/3690/

November 19-23, 2010: The Gerontological Society of America. Annual Scientific Meeting, Across the Aging Continuum, New Orleans, LA www.geron.org/2010

Dec. 7-10, 2010: The Fourth Annual Positive Aging Conference will be held in Los Angeles, sponsored by the Fielding Graduate University, with Marc Freedman and George Vaillant as speakers. Submissions are invited for presentations on themes including later life creativity, civic engagement, community, spirituality, lifelong learning, and work in the second half of life. For more information about the Conference, visit: http://www.positiveaging.fielding.edu
February 5-10, 2011: Play with Purpose: Relational and Performative Practices in Everyday Life. Come join us for a SEMINAR AT SEA - Event Takes Place on a Cruise Ship Leaving from Galveston, TX. Play - Learn – Improv - Perform…key themes for this upcoming event. In all our relations we must improvise. When we do it well, there is joy, harmony, and vitality. Rational planning is replaced by skills akin to creative play. Developing and enhancing these resources is the aim of this event. For information visit: www.taosinstitute.net/seminar-at-sea-overview (Deadline for registration is November 15, as the ship is almost sold out.)

We are sending our newsletter from a new distribution point, and we hope you are able to receive it without difficulty.
Please email me, Mary Gergen gv4@psu.edu if you have any trouble opening or reading it.

Questions & Feedback
If you have any questions, or material you'd like to share with other newsletter readers,
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The Positive Aging Newsletter

The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen,
dedicated to productive dialogue between research and practice.
Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net)
.
“THE BEST IN…INSIGHTS IN AGING”
Wall Street Journal

A most welcome addition to our library is a new book edited by Prem Fry and Corey Keyes called New Frontiers in Resilient Aging. These well-known authorities in gerontology brought together major gerontology researchers to discuss the nature of resilience, and how this capacity influences our lives as we age. Resilience may be described in many ways, but we would define it as the ability to overcome challenging circumstances. Like the proverbial rubber ball, resilience is the capacity to bounce back. The authors in this book believe that older people are able to capitalize on their long experience of living to continue to grow, learn, and enjoy life, in spite of the difficult challenges confronted along the way. Helpful assets for being resilient include being socially connected, highly involved and committed to projects and causes, being open to new experiences, having people who care about you and intellectual stimulation. Older adults, while coping with a diversity of challenges and losses, can be helped to develop the qualities necessary for a resilient response.

This is where caring and motivated professionals in a variety of fields can be useful. To engage older people with respect and the belief that they can harbor certain strengths, emotional maturity, and regenerative capacities will help them continue to grow and thrive in later years. In the final chapter in this volume, we had the opportunity to explore the idea that a major contribution to resilience lies in our capacity to reconstruct or reframe events in our lives. For example, it is common to view what we call “decline in physical and mental abilities,” “physical handicaps, “or “reduced physical attractiveness” in a negative way. All are considered deficits. However, in our workshops, we have challenged our participants to reconsider ways in which each of these deficits could also be a contribution to their lives. From the lively conversations that follow, participants are able to generate new and far more promising ways of seeing such events. In effect, they move toward a positive state of resilience.

Mary and Ken Gergen
Reference: Fry, P S. and C. L. M. Keyes (Eds.) New Frontiers in Resilient Aging:Life-Strenghts and Well-Being in Late Life. (2010). New York: Cambridge University Press.

Often we think of mental ability as a personal attribute, somehow built into the genes. A fruitful alternative to this view holds that mental ability is nurtured and sustained within relationships. We need each other to thrive. Research on 304 older married couples supports this view. Each participant was evaluated in terms of two key abilities: perceptual speed and incidental memory. These two traits are considered important indicators of cognitive abilities over the lifespan. The study looked at the relationship between husband and wife in their abilities over time. Are there signs that the ability of one may affect the ability of the other member of the couple? The couples were studied over an 11 -year period. At the start of the study, the mean age of the couples was 76. The major finding of this report was that the husband’s level of functioning, especially his perceptual speed, predicted the subsequent performance of his wife the following year. The reverse was not true. Researchers speculated that one reason for this relationship had to do with the impact of a husband’s state of mind on a wife’s role. If a husband had a robust, active and interesting life, then so would his wife; if he had a limited lifestyle, and, especially, if he needed care, the wife’s life was also diminished, and she lost challenging inputs to her thinking. However, it is also important to consider sex-role functioning in this case. In traditional families, often built around the senior male, the wife may be more influenced by the liveliness of her husband than vice versa. In more democratic families, where husband and wife may have more outside relationships, cognitive stimulation may move more easily in both directions, and have major inputs from outside the marriage.

In 2008 Gary Charness, an economics professor at the University of California at Santa Barbara, and Marie Claire Villeval of the University of Lyon compared how “seniors” over age 50 and “juniors” under 30 behaved during experimental games and tasks. After multiple tests conducted on-site with employees of two large firms and in a conventional laboratory environment, the study concluded, “We show that seniors are no more risk averse than juniors and are typically more cooperative; both juniors and working seniors respond strongly to competition.”
Among the study’s specific findings:

Seniors are more cooperative even where there is a strong incentive to free ride on the contribution of others. When they know they are teamed with juniors, working seniors cooperate more than in all-senior teams. Seniors who choose to compete in a tournament perform as well as juniors. “These results are at variance with the widespread stereotypes about seniors,” the study concludes. “Seniors are perceived to be less adaptable, overly cautious and less willing to learn. These views undoubtedly contribute to age discrimination against seniors in the workplace. We show, however, that working seniors are as reactive and productive as juniors when competing against an opponent.”Because mixed-age groups outperformed homogeneous groups in the study, Charness told The Times that an optimum workforce at an office would have a range of ages.

The Ninth Annual Year in Ideas roundup published December 13, 2009 in The New York Times Magazine . From a Blog by Terry Nagel, 2009

Research does show that many people still view hearing loss a sign of old age decline. As one woman said, “It’s just sort of the image of these doddering old fogies wandering around with a horn sticking out of their ear, that projects the image of age…” This same view functions as a barrier to treating hearing loss through wearing hearing aids. The media and hearing professionals also carries the message of stigma in that most hearing ads are advertised as being “invisible.” This adjective may be appealing to customers, but it also continues the myth that hearing aids are something to hide. They are indicators of decline. At the same time, there are numerous indicators of a disappearing stigma. This is partly so, as vast numbers of the young are experiencing hearing loss resulting from exposure to loud music. Further, as the population ages, many more people are recognizing the important advantages of hearing aids in terms of an active and satisfying social life. Hearing aids are becoming as commonplace as eye glasses, the latter which are now regarded as fashion statements. Another element in the de-stigmatization is the advent of mobile communication devices in which ear clips are commonly used. And more generally, there is increasing acceptance in society of reliance on mechanical devices (e.g. teeth and breast implants, pace makers, back braces, artificial joints, spell checkers) in order to accomplish our goals.

We also recommend the pioneering work of David Myers, well-known social psychologist and hearing advocate. David's latest essay in the Hearing Review explains his advocacy for transforming assistive listening for people with hearing loss (see also hearingloop.org).

FEELING BETTER WITHOUT DRUGS
Drugs for what ails you, from depression to diabetes, seem to be the American way. But it is not necessarily an optimal way or even a good way to feel better. These are some common alternatives to the drug route to health that avoid the usual drug induced side-effects, dependencies, and costs: - Arthritis: Aerobic and strength-training exercises can help people with arthritis feel better. Younger and well as older people experience a significant reduction in pain through exercising. Go to www.arthritis.org for more information on this program. - Bodily Pain: Again, exercise is an answer. A 2007 review of 31 studies on nondrug treatments for fibromyalgia concluded that low to moderate intensity aerobics, including water aerobics, reduced symptoms. Exercise was also helpful to back pain sufferers. Other treatments, including acupuncture and meditation have also worked for many people with pain. - Tummy Troubles: Peppermint oil is an excellent choice for 3 of 4 people who have tummy problems, including irritable bowel syndrome. . Yogurt also helps. Heartburn is lessened if certain “dangerous” foods are resisted, such as caffeine and chocolate. It also helps to lose excess weight, quite smoking, eating smaller meals more often, and avoid lying down after eating. Wearing comfortable clothing also helps. - Urinary Problems: Doing Kegel exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor helps with controlling those giggle-induced wet spells. Google Kegel exercises to find out more. Also check out some behavioral measures to stop the rush to the toilet. One way is to reflect on your “go” signal, tighten your pelvic muscles 3 times, and walk, not run to the bathroom. - Depressed Mood: Its exercise again. In two clinical trials comparing exercise with anti-depressant drugs for major depression, researchers found that after about four months, both approaches worked equally well. Drugs alone are no substitute for talk therapy, and in the long run, finding ways of living better through therapy is more successful than popping the pill. - Sleeplessness: Good sleep habits can work as well as taking a sleeping pill, and over a six month period those without the pill slept better than those who sometimes used one. Good sleep habits include having a regular sleep schedule, a dark and cool bedroom reserved for sex and sleep, and no coffee, alcohol, smoke or exercise near bedtime. (People who love to read in bed or watch tv will want some re-evaluation of this.) - Impotence: A six month British trial found that 75% of men who did Kegel exercises regained improved erectile functioning (40% to normal) without a pill. It is also helpful to lose excess weight, quit smoking, exercise more, drink less alcohol, and avoid pressure from bicycle seats.

From: Feel Better without Drugs. Consumer Reports on Health, 2010, 22, 1, 4.
CELEBRITY NEWS FROM THE THIRD AGE
Betty White’s performance career has spanned over 70 years. Once a star in the early days of television, and in May, a guest host on Saturday Night Live, Betty has signed a contract to write two books about her life. The first one, “Listen up,” will be released in 2011. Perhaps her best known roles were in The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Golden Girls. Currently she is playing in the sitcom, Hot in Cleveland. She is not only “hot” in Cleveland, but from coast to coast. Ernest Borgnine, Oscar winner for his role in the movie, Marty, will be honored with a lifetime achievement award by the Screen Actors Guild. He has acted in more than 200 films, and has boundless energy, “which, at 93, is still a hall mark of his remarkably busy life and career,” according to Ken Howard, the Guild’s president. Brett Favre, 40, returned to the Minnesota Vikings, to resume his quarterback career. After two retirements, he is eager to lead his team to the Super Bowl, he believes.

In a big change of heart, television moguls are rethinking their old idea that old is bad in terms of audience appeal and advertisers’ dollars. Until recently, ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox were only interested in viewers who were under 50. Today, the median age of viewers is 51. Their audiences have aged twice as fast as the general population. The TV execs and advertisers are learning to care about those over 50. Dancing with the Stars, with a median audience age of 60, is ABC’s most popular series. The median age of American Idol audiences has jumped from 36 to 44 over the last seven seasons. New advertising sectors are opening up with the older audiences in mind, including prescription drugs, financial services, and travel, for example. “Don’t discount people who are in their 50’s and 60’s. … The reality is these are the people who have the money,” according to Alan Wurtzel, research chief at NBC.

All the items are from the Philadelphia Inquirer, August 21, 2010.

MORE ON ELDERLY POWER
Often neglected in the studies of financial wellbeing is the wealth of various households. Wealth, unlike income, is related to the accumulation of valuable assets over a lifetime. It is not surprising that one may accumulate possessions, especially houses, as one ages. In this study, a first of its kind, researchers evaluated older women’s wealth holdings in six countries: U. S., U.K., Germany, Italy, Finland, and Sweden. Surprisingly, they discovered that older women’s wealth holdings surpass the national averages in all countries. “Older women’s households in the United States report the highest level of median net worth across these six countries” (pg. 411). Their net worth is 4 times the average of all households in the U. S. The home ownership rate of older women’s households in America is 82%, and this is the basis for their wealth in most cases. Despite this foundation of wealth, it is not adequate for maintaining a satisfactory standard of living. “The surest way to prevent economic hardship among older women, and men, is to provide a floor under older households’ incomes through government transfers. As our results suggest, self-protection through wealth accumulation alone is not sufficient”(pg. 412).

First, a disclosure: We wrote a brief after-words to this powerful and helpful book; we did so because we think it is an excellent resource for therapists who work in the gerontology field, as well as those who are caretakers, counselors, therapists, and friends involved with people of all ages. The editors are also among the chapter writers, and the therapists about whom it is written. Their clients are multi-faceted Londoners; they diverge in terms of ethnicity, social class, race, and well-being. Some live in nursing homes and others on their own. The group of authors worked together, telling stories to each other about important topics related to their systemic therapy practices. From their memory work they developed various themes that seemed important for their work as therapists. They also began to describe the practices they found useful for particular themes, e.g. loneliness or dementia. One of the strengths of their approach is that they strive to create the potentials for positive aging. “An ongoing challenge we face is how to move away from talk that is problem saturated or hopeless to creating space for valuing the older person’s skills and abilities and inviting hopes for the future” (pg. 161). Through their various examples, they illustrate how this transition might be possible. Another strength of the approach is that these therapists try to find alliances with many other health care workers and family members, even those that are less hopeful or involved in the older person’s well-being. They try to remain open to others’ theoretical and medical vocabularies, even if they are not the most useful from their perspectives. It is an energizing and optimistic vision of how therapeutic care of older people could be realized. MG

Retired executive and recent retiree, R. Kevin Price, made as one of his retirement goals writing a book about successful retirement. He has now succeeded. His major point of view, which is broadly shared, is that the most important factor in successful retirement is remaining intellectually, socially, and physically engaged with life. To do this, especially when the rhythms of the workaday world are terminated, is to figure out new things with which to be involved. To entice the reader into considering either old and forgotten interests or to stimulate new ones, he has listed over two hundred potentially fascinating activities. Although the title suggested two of them, acting and zen, others that might be more exotic include gold panning, yodeling, marquetry, and pilgrimages. Each choice has a brief description, sometimes a bit of history, and a couple of books that might help one on one’s way to becoming engaged with this particular item. Appendices also help the reader to become involved in various organizations or activities. This is a clear-cut, easily read book that sparks the imagination and stimulates the mind. MGThe Spiral of the Seasons: Welcoming the Gifts of Later Life
by John G. Sullivan,
Second Journey Publications, 2009. www.secondjourney.org.

This is a lovely book, written by an Emeritus philosophy professor from Elon University in North Carolina. Divided into the seasons, we read of Spring’s Stirrings, Summer’s Fullness, Autumn’s Way, and Winter’s Gifts. In a diversity of modes, Dr. Sullivan involves the reader in an appreciation of the virtues of aging. Story telling, Zen koans, and a gathering of wisdom from poets, sages, and friends enlarge the interpretations of important aspects of life, including forgiveness, openness, serenity, and happiness. MG

Howard Stone writes:
I took up the violin a few months ago to celebrate my 75th year and test the effects of brain neuroplasticity in honor of the recent passing of Dr. Gene Cohen. Biggest surprise; I’m now playing jazz piano better than ever and my memory has improved across the board. Just don’t ask about my level of fiddling at this early stage. Keep up the good work.

Nan Phifer asked that we share this announcement:
Write Spiritual Memoirs in the Rocky Mountains, at Way-Points Highlands Retreat Center, near Allenspark, CO, Sept. 27-30. Nan Phifer, author of Memoirs of the Soul: A Writing Guide, will lead you in identifying your most significant experiences and make easy the writing of spontaneous drafts. You’ll write about several landmarks in your spiritual journey, gain ideas for more chapters to write later, and experience a writing process you can continue to use. Cost: $375/person double occupancy; $500/person single occupancy. See website www.memoirworkshops.com ; telephone Holly at 1-303-747-2888.

Vikki Hilton, from the Appreciative Inquiry listserv, writes:
I am doing some work in Scotland around Active Communities and I just thought I would share some wonderful stories I have heard. My colleague and I refer to these as Inspirational stories.
A 92 year old woman living in a flat accessed by stairs who uses a cane:
“When I come downstairs to get my mail I go down, up, down and up again. I am 92; I need to make sure I keep fit.”
The 80+ year old, ex heavy truck driver:
“I had a stoke some time ago so can’t be so active. I measured my corridor, it’s 9 yards long. I make sure I walk that several times a day to keep fit, and I used to have my own band so I still compose music using a keyboard linked to my computer.”
Another couple - 80 and 74:
“We both swim, play bowls and I do sequence dancing 3 times a week, and I do tapestry work and make cards. I’m demonstrating card making next month. And of course I belong to the Guilds. We don’t have a car so we walk. One needs to keep active. I’ve had 2 heart attacks, a brain haemorrhage, I’m diabetic •••••...”

As they tell their stories they light up, laugh, smile • I laugh and smile ...

Readers ask if they may reprint or circulate materials published in this newsletter. We are most pleased for any expansion in circulation. You are free to use any or all that you find in the newsletter, but trust that you will acknowledge the Newsletter as the source.

September 30-October 2, 2010 AARP presents Orlando@50+, Speakers, exhibits, concerts, all designed to enhance the health and happiness of mature adults. Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida. Information at www.aarp.org/events or 1-800-883-2784.
November 19-23, 2010: The Gerontological Society of America. 63rdAnnual Scientific Meeting, Across the Aging Continuum, New Orleans, LA www.geron.org/2010
The Fourth Annual Positive Aging Conference will be held in Los Angeles, Dec. 7-10, 2010,sponsored by the Fielding Graduate University, with Marc Freedman (Civic Ventures) as Keynote Speaker. Submissions are invited for presentations on themes including later life creativity, civic engagement, community, spirituality, lifelong learning, and work in the second half of life. For more information about the Conference, visit:http://www.positiveaging.fielding.edu

February 5-10, 2011, Play with Purpose: Relational and Performative Practices in Everyday Life.
SEMINAR AT SEA -Event Takes Place on a Cruise Ship Leaving from Galveston, TX. Play - Learn – Improv - Perform…key themes for this upcoming event. In all our relations we must improvise. When we do it well, there is joy, harmony, and vitality. Rational planning is replaced by skills akin to creative play. Developing and enhancing these resources is the aim of this event. For information visit:http://www.taosinstitute.net/seminar-at-sea-overview

We are sending our newsletter from a new distribution point, and we hope you are able to receive it without difficulty. Please email me, Mary Gergen gv4@psu.edu if you have any trouble opening or reading it. We are sorry that our summer issue is now appearing in the fall. Next time, we will be more on target.
Questions & Feedback:
If you have any questions, or material you'd like to share
with other newsletter readers, please e-mail Mary Gergen at gv4@psu.edu

]]>
July/August, 2010
The Positive Aging Newsletter
The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen,
dedicated to productive dialogue between research and practice.
Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net)
.
“THE BEST IN…INSIGHTS IN AGING”
Wall Street Journal
Issue No 63
COMMENTARY:
Resilience in Aging
RESEARCH:
Keeping Each Other Sharp
Shattering Myths about Older Employees
Hearing Loss: The Vanishing Stigma
IN THE NEWS:
Feeling Better Without Drugs
Celebrity News from the Third Age
More on Elderly Power
BOOK REVIEWS:
Being with Older People; A Systemic Approach. Edited by Glenda Fredman, Eleanor Anderson, and Joshua Stott
The Successful Retirement Guide: From Acting to Zen. By R. Kevin Price
The Spiral of the Seasons: Welcoming the Gifts of Later Life by John G. Sullivan
READERS RESPOND
OPEN INVITATION
UPCOMING EVENTS
Information for Readers
COMMENTARY Resilience in Aging
A most welcome addition to our library is a new book edited by Prem Fry and Corey Keyes called New Frontiers in Resilient Aging. These well-known authorities in gerontology brought together major gerontology researchers to discuss the nature of resilience, and how this capacity influences our lives as we age. Resilience may be described in many ways, but we would define it as the ability to overcome challenging circumstances. Like the proverbial rubber ball, resilience is the capacity to bounce back. The authors in this book believe that older people are able to capitalize on their long experience of living to continue to grow, learn, and enjoy life, in spite of the difficult challenges confronted along the way. Helpful assets for being resilient include being socially connected, highly involved and committed to projects and causes, being open to new experiences, having people who care about you and intellectual stimulation. Older adults, while coping with a diversity of challenges and losses, can be helped to develop the qualities necessary for a resilient response.
This is where caring and motivated professionals in a variety of fields can be useful. To engage older people with respect and the belief that they can harbor certain strengths, emotional maturity, and regenerative capacities will help them continue to grow and thrive in later years. In the final chapter in this volume, we had the opportunity to explore the idea that a major contribution to resilience lies in our capacity to reconstruct or reframe events in our lives. For example, it is common to view what we call “decline in physical and mental abilities,” “physical handicaps, “or “reduced physical attractiveness” in a negative way. All are considered deficits. However, in our workshops, we have challenged our participants to reconsider ways in which each of these deficits could also be a contribution to their lives. From the lively conversations that follow, participants are able to generate new and far more promising ways of seeing such events. In effect, they move toward a positive state of resilience.
Mary and Ken Gergen
Reference: Fry, P S. and C. L. M. Keyes (Eds.) New Frontiers in Resilient Aging:Life-Strenghts and Well-Being in Late Life. (2010). New York: Cambridge University Press.
RESEARCH: Keeping Each Other Sharp
Often we think of mental ability as a personal attribute, somehow built into the genes. A fruitful alternative to this view holds that mental ability is nurtured and sustained within relationships. We need each other to thrive. Research on 304 older married couples supports this view. Each participant was evaluated in terms of two key abilities: perceptual speed and incidental memory. These two traits are considered important indicators of cognitive abilities over the lifespan. The study looked at the relationship between husband and wife in their abilities over time. Are there signs that the ability of one may affect the ability

July/August, 2010

The Positive Aging Newsletter

The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen,
dedicated to productive dialogue between research and practice.
Sponsored by the Taos Institute (www.taosinstitute.net)
.
“THE BEST IN…INSIGHTS IN AGING”
Wall Street Journal

A most welcome addition to our library is a new book edited by Prem Fry and Corey Keyes called New Frontiers in Resilient Aging. These well-known authorities in gerontology brought together major gerontology researchers to discuss the nature of resilience, and how this capacity influences our lives as we age. Resilience may be described in many ways, but we would define it as the ability to overcome challenging circumstances. Like the proverbial rubber ball, resilience is the capacity to bounce back. The authors in this book believe that older people are able to capitalize on their long experience of living to continue to grow, learn, and enjoy life, in spite of the difficult challenges confronted along the way. Helpful assets for being resilient include being socially connected, highly involved and committed to projects and causes, being open to new experiences, having people who care about you and intellectual stimulation. Older adults, while coping with a diversity of challenges and losses, can be helped to develop the qualities necessary for a resilient response.

This is where caring and motivated professionals in a variety of fields can be useful. To engage older people with respect and the belief that they can harbor certain strengths, emotional maturity, and regenerative capacities will help them continue to grow and thrive in later years. In the final chapter in this volume, we had the opportunity to explore the idea that a major contribution to resilience lies in our capacity to reconstruct or reframe events in our lives. For example, it is common to view what we call “decline in physical and mental abilities,” “physical handicaps, “or “reduced physical attractiveness” in a negative way. All are considered deficits. However, in our workshops, we have challenged our participants to reconsider ways in which each of these deficits could also be a contribution to their lives. From the lively conversations that follow, participants are able to generate new and far more promising ways of seeing such events. In effect, they move toward a positive state of resilience.

Mary and Ken Gergen
Reference: Fry, P S. and C. L. M. Keyes (Eds.) New Frontiers in Resilient Aging:Life-Strenghts and Well-Being in Late Life. (2010). New York: Cambridge University Press.

Often we think of mental ability as a personal attribute, somehow built into the genes. A fruitful alternative to this view holds that mental ability is nurtured and sustained within relationships. We need each other to thrive. Research on 304 older married couples supports this view. Each participant was evaluated in terms of two key abilities: perceptual speed and incidental memory. These two traits are considered important indicators of cognitive abilities over the lifespan. The study looked at the relationship between husband and wife in their abilities over time. Are there signs that the ability of one may affect the ability of the other member of the couple? The couples were studied over an 11 -year period. At the start of the study, the mean age of the couples was 76. The major finding of this report was that the husband’s level of functioning, especially his perceptual speed, predicted the subsequent performance of his wife the following year. The reverse was not true. Researchers speculated that one reason for this relationship had to do with the impact of a husband’s state of mind on a wife’s role. If a husband had a robust, active and interesting life, then so would his wife; if he had a limited lifestyle, and, especially, if he needed care, the wife’s life was also diminished, and she lost challenging inputs to her thinking. However, it is also important to consider sex-role functioning in this case. In traditional families, often built around the senior male, the wife may be more influenced by the liveliness of her husband than vice versa. In more democratic families, where husband and wife may have more outside relationships, cognitive stimulation may move more easily in both directions, and have major inputs from outside the marriage.

In 2008 Gary Charness, an economics professor at the University of California at Santa Barbara, and Marie Claire Villeval of the University of Lyon compared how “seniors” over age 50 and “juniors” under 30 behaved during experimental games and tasks. After multiple tests conducted on-site with employees of two large firms and in a conventional laboratory environment, the study concluded, “We show that seniors are no more risk averse than juniors and are typically more cooperative; both juniors and working seniors respond strongly to competition.”
Among the study’s specific findings:

Seniors are more cooperative even where there is a strong incentive to free ride on the contribution of others. When they know they are teamed with juniors, working seniors cooperate more than in all-senior teams. Seniors who choose to compete in a tournament perform as well as juniors. “These results are at variance with the widespread stereotypes about seniors,” the study concludes. “Seniors are perceived to be less adaptable, overly cautious and less willing to learn. These views undoubtedly contribute to age discrimination against seniors in the workplace. We show, however, that working seniors are as reactive and productive as juniors when competing against an opponent.”Because mixed-age groups outperformed homogeneous groups in the study, Charness told The Times that an optimum workforce at an office would have a range of ages.

The Ninth Annual Year in Ideas roundup published December 13, 2009 in The New York Times Magazine . From a Blog by Terry Nagel, 2009

Research does show that many people still view hearing loss a sign of old age decline. As one woman said, “It’s just sort of the image of these doddering old fogies wandering around with a horn sticking out of their ear, that projects the image of age…” This same view functions as a barrier to treating hearing loss through wearing hearing aids. The media and hearing professionals also carries the message of stigma in that most hearing ads are advertised as being “invisible.” This adjective may be appealing to customers, but it also continues the myth that hearing aids are something to hide. They are indicators of decline. At the same time, there are numerous indicators of a disappearing stigma. This is partly so, as vast numbers of the young are experiencing hearing loss resulting from exposure to loud music. Further, as the population ages, many more people are recognizing the important advantages of hearing aids in terms of an active and satisfying social life. Hearing aids are becoming as commonplace as eye glasses, the latter which are now regarded as fashion statements. Another element in the de-stigmatization is the advent of mobile communication devices in which ear clips are commonly used. And more generally, there is increasing acceptance in society of reliance on mechanical devices (e.g. teeth and breast implants, pace makers, back braces, artificial joints, spell checkers) in order to accomplish our goals.

We also recommend the pioneering work of David Myers, well-known social psychologist and hearing advocate. David's latest essay in the Hearing Review explains his advocacy for transforming assistive listening for people with hearing loss (see also hearingloop.org).

FEELING BETTER WITHOUT DRUGS
Drugs for what ails you, from depression to diabetes, seem to be the American way. But it is not necessarily an optimal way or even a good way to feel better. These are some common alternatives to the drug route to health that avoid the usual drug induced side-effects, dependencies, and costs: - Arthritis: Aerobic and strength-training exercises can help people with arthritis feel better. Younger and well as older people experience a significant reduction in pain through exercising. Go to www.arthritis.org for more information on this program. - Bodily Pain: Again, exercise is an answer. A 2007 review of 31 studies on nondrug treatments for fibromyalgia concluded that low to moderate intensity aerobics, including water aerobics, reduced symptoms. Exercise was also helpful to back pain sufferers. Other treatments, including acupuncture and meditation have also worked for many people with pain. - Tummy Troubles: Peppermint oil is an excellent choice for 3 of 4 people who have tummy problems, including irritable bowel syndrome. . Yogurt also helps. Heartburn is lessened if certain “dangerous” foods are resisted, such as caffeine and chocolate. It also helps to lose excess weight, quite smoking, eating smaller meals more often, and avoid lying down after eating. Wearing comfortable clothing also helps. - Urinary Problems: Doing Kegel exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor helps with controlling those giggle-induced wet spells. Google Kegel exercises to find out more. Also check out some behavioral measures to stop the rush to the toilet. One way is to reflect on your “go” signal, tighten your pelvic muscles 3 times, and walk, not run to the bathroom. - Depressed Mood: Its exercise again. In two clinical trials comparing exercise with anti-depressant drugs for major depression, researchers found that after about four months, both approaches worked equally well. Drugs alone are no substitute for talk therapy, and in the long run, finding ways of living better through therapy is more successful than popping the pill. - Sleeplessness: Good sleep habits can work as well as taking a sleeping pill, and over a six month period those without the pill slept better than those who sometimes used one. Good sleep habits include having a regular sleep schedule, a dark and cool bedroom reserved for sex and sleep, and no coffee, alcohol, smoke or exercise near bedtime. (People who love to read in bed or watch tv will want some re-evaluation of this.) - Impotence: A six month British trial found that 75% of men who did Kegel exercises regained improved erectile functioning (40% to normal) without a pill. It is also helpful to lose excess weight, quit smoking, exercise more, drink less alcohol, and avoid pressure from bicycle seats.

From: Feel Better without Drugs. Consumer Reports on Health, 2010, 22, 1, 4.
CELEBRITY NEWS FROM THE THIRD AGE
Betty White’s performance career has spanned over 70 years. Once a star in the early days of television, and in May, a guest host on Saturday Night Live, Betty has signed a contract to write two books about her life. The first one, “Listen up,” will be released in 2011. Perhaps her best known roles were in The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Golden Girls. Currently she is playing in the sitcom, Hot in Cleveland. She is not only “hot” in Cleveland, but from coast to coast. Ernest Borgnine, Oscar winner for his role in the movie, Marty, will be honored with a lifetime achievement award by the Screen Actors Guild. He has acted in more than 200 films, and has boundless energy, “which, at 93, is still a hall mark of his remarkably busy life and career,” according to Ken Howard, the Guild’s president. Brett Favre, 40, returned to the Minnesota Vikings, to resume his quarterback career. After two retirements, he is eager to lead his team to the Super Bowl, he believes.

In a big change of heart, television moguls are rethinking their old idea that old is bad in terms of audience appeal and advertisers’ dollars. Until recently, ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox were only interested in viewers who were under 50. Today, the median age of viewers is 51. Their audiences have aged twice as fast as the general population. The TV execs and advertisers are learning to care about those over 50. Dancing with the Stars, with a median audience age of 60, is ABC’s most popular series. The median age of American Idol audiences has jumped from 36 to 44 over the last seven seasons. New advertising sectors are opening up with the older audiences in mind, including prescription drugs, financial services, and travel, for example. “Don’t discount people who are in their 50’s and 60’s. … The reality is these are the people who have the money,” according to Alan Wurtzel, research chief at NBC.

All the items are from the Philadelphia Inquirer, August 21, 2010.

MORE ON ELDERLY POWER
Often neglected in the studies of financial wellbeing is the wealth of various households. Wealth, unlike income, is related to the accumulation of valuable assets over a lifetime. It is not surprising that one may accumulate possessions, especially houses, as one ages. In this study, a first of its kind, researchers evaluated older women’s wealth holdings in six countries: U. S., U.K., Germany, Italy, Finland, and Sweden. Surprisingly, they discovered that older women’s wealth holdings surpass the national averages in all countries. “Older women’s households in the United States report the highest level of median net worth across these six countries” (pg. 411). Their net worth is 4 times the average of all households in the U. S. The home ownership rate of older women’s households in America is 82%, and this is the basis for their wealth in most cases. Despite this foundation of wealth, it is not adequate for maintaining a satisfactory standard of living. “The surest way to prevent economic hardship among older women, and men, is to provide a floor under older households’ incomes through government transfers. As our results suggest, self-protection through wealth accumulation alone is not sufficient”(pg. 412).

First, a disclosure: We wrote a brief after-words to this powerful and helpful book; we did so because we think it is an excellent resource for therapists who work in the gerontology field, as well as those who are caretakers, counselors, therapists, and friends involved with people of all ages. The editors are also among the chapter writers, and the therapists about whom it is written. Their clients are multi-faceted Londoners; they diverge in terms of ethnicity, social class, race, and well-being. Some live in nursing homes and others on their own. The group of authors worked together, telling stories to each other about important topics related to their systemic therapy practices. From their memory work they developed various themes that seemed important for their work as therapists. They also began to describe the practices they found useful for particular themes, e.g. loneliness or dementia. One of the strengths of their approach is that they strive to create the potentials for positive aging. “An ongoing challenge we face is how to move away from talk that is problem saturated or hopeless to creating space for valuing the older person’s skills and abilities and inviting hopes for the future” (pg. 161). Through their various examples, they illustrate how this transition might be possible. Another strength of the approach is that these therapists try to find alliances with many other health care workers and family members, even those that are less hopeful or involved in the older person’s well-being. They try to remain open to others’ theoretical and medical vocabularies, even if they are not the most useful from their perspectives. It is an energizing and optimistic vision of how therapeutic care of older people could be realized. MG

Retired executive and recent retiree, R. Kevin Price, made as one of his retirement goals writing a book about successful retirement. He has now succeeded. His major point of view, which is broadly shared, is that the most important factor in successful retirement is remaining intellectually, socially, and physically engaged with life. To do this, especially when the rhythms of the workaday world are terminated, is to figure out new things with which to be involved. To entice the reader into considering either old and forgotten interests or to stimulate new ones, he has listed over two hundred potentially fascinating activities. Although the title suggested two of them, acting and zen, others that might be more exotic include gold panning, yodeling, marquetry, and pilgrimages. Each choice has a brief description, sometimes a bit of history, and a couple of books that might help one on one’s way to becoming engaged with this particular item. Appendices also help the reader to become involved in various organizations or activities. This is a clear-cut, easily read book that sparks the imagination and stimulates the mind. MGThe Spiral of the Seasons: Welcoming the Gifts of Later Life
by John G. Sullivan,
Second Journey Publications, 2009. www.secondjourney.org.

This is a lovely book, written by an Emeritus philosophy professor from Elon University in North Carolina. Divided into the seasons, we read of Spring’s Stirrings, Summer’s Fullness, Autumn’s Way, and Winter’s Gifts. In a diversity of modes, Dr. Sullivan involves the reader in an appreciation of the virtues of aging. Story telling, Zen koans, and a gathering of wisdom from poets, sages, and friends enlarge the interpretations of important aspects of life, including forgiveness, openness, serenity, and happiness. MG

Howard Stone writes:
I took up the violin a few months ago to celebrate my 75th year and test the effects of brain neuroplasticity in honor of the recent passing of Dr. Gene Cohen. Biggest surprise; I’m now playing jazz piano better than ever and my memory has improved across the board. Just don’t ask about my level of fiddling at this early stage. Keep up the good work.

Nan Phifer asked that we share this announcement:
Write Spiritual Memoirs in the Rocky Mountains, at Way-Points Highlands Retreat Center, near Allenspark, CO, Sept. 27-30. Nan Phifer, author of Memoirs of the Soul: A Writing Guide, will lead you in identifying your most significant experiences and make easy the writing of spontaneous drafts. You’ll write about several landmarks in your spiritual journey, gain ideas for more chapters to write later, and experience a writing process you can continue to use. Cost: $375/person double occupancy; $500/person single occupancy. See website www.memoirworkshops.com ; telephone Holly at 1-303-747-2888.

Vikki Hilton, from the Appreciative Inquiry listserv, writes:
I am doing some work in Scotland around Active Communities and I just thought I would share some wonderful stories I have heard. My colleague and I refer to these as Inspirational stories.
A 92 year old woman living in a flat accessed by stairs who uses a cane:
“When I come downstairs to get my mail I go down, up, down and up again. I am 92; I need to make sure I keep fit.”
The 80+ year old, ex heavy truck driver:
“I had a stoke some time ago so can’t be so active. I measured my corridor, it’s 9 yards long. I make sure I walk that several times a day to keep fit, and I used to have my own band so I still compose music using a keyboard linked to my computer.”
Another couple - 80 and 74:
“We both swim, play bowls and I do sequence dancing 3 times a week, and I do tapestry work and make cards. I’m demonstrating card making next month. And of course I belong to the Guilds. We don’t have a car so we walk. One needs to keep active. I’ve had 2 heart attacks, a brain haemorrhage, I’m diabetic •••••...”

As they tell their stories they light up, laugh, smile • I laugh and smile ...

Readers ask if they may reprint or circulate materials published in this newsletter. We are most pleased for any expansion in circulation. You are free to use any or all that you find in the newsletter, but trust that you will acknowledge the Newsletter as the source.

September 30-October 2, 2010 AARP presents Orlando@50+, Speakers, exhibits, concerts, all designed to enhance the health and happiness of mature adults. Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida. Information at www.aarp.org/events or 1-800-883-2784.
November 19-23, 2010: The Gerontological Society of America. 63rdAnnual Scientific Meeting, Across the Aging Continuum, New Orleans, LA www.geron.org/2010
The Fourth Annual Positive Aging Conference will be held in Los Angeles, Dec. 7-10, 2010,sponsored by the Fielding Graduate University, with Marc Freedman (Civic Ventures) as Keynote Speaker. Submissions are invited for presentations on themes including later life creativity, civic engagement, community, spirituality, lifelong learning, and work in the second half of life. For more information about the Conference, visit:http://www.positiveaging.fielding.edu

February 5-10, 2011, Play with Purpose: Relational and Performative Practices in Everyday Life.
SEMINAR AT SEA -Event Takes Place on a Cruise Ship Leaving from Galveston, TX. Play - Learn – Improv - Perform…key themes for this upcoming event. In all our relations we must improvise. When we do it well, there is joy, harmony, and vitality. Rational planning is replaced by skills akin to creative play. Developing and enhancing these resources is the aim of this event. For information visit:http://www.taosinstitute.net/seminar-at-sea-overview

We are sending our newsletter from a new distribution point, and we hope you are able to receive it without difficulty. Please email me, Mary Gergen gv4@psu.edu if you have any trouble opening or reading it. We are sorry that our summer issue is now appearing in the fall. Next time, we will be more on target.
Questions & Feedback:
If you have any questions, or material you'd like to share
with other newsletter readers, please e-mail Mary Gergen at gv4@psu.edu

A common maxim, offered by sages from many times and places, is to live in the moment, one day at a time. There is much to
be said for this advice, but in our view it is far too limited. There are also riches to be derived from immersing oneself in times past, as well
as engaging energetically in future time. In effect, engaging in all three dimensions of time – present, past, future – offers the greatest
riches. Consider for a moment the upward limits of “living in the present.” We were both struck by a poem entitled “A Maxim” by Carl
Dennis in the June 7 issue of The New Yorker. Dennis notes that it was Marcus Aurelius who first gets credit for the injunction to “live
each day as if it might be the last.” However, as the poem wryly suggests, this might entail working on one’s will in the morning, and
saying goodbye to dear ones the rest of the day. After awhile, the poet notes, most people would try desperately to avoid you. Rather, he
suggests that we take an hour each day to pay our bills, forgive someone, or write a letter of thanks or apology. He ends by suggesting
that one think of the future:

“No shame in a ticket to a concert seven months off,
Or, better yet, two tickets, as if you were hoping
To meet by then someone who’d love to join you,
Two seats near the front so you catch each note.”

This last suggestion has a serious side as well. As research reported in earlier Newsletters indicates, by investing in the future we become
more active, engaged, and alert. Life is both lengthened and animated.

Yet, there are untold riches to be derived from looking backward as well. As theologian Soren Kierkegaard once wrote, “Life
can only be understood backwards.” It is in the process of reminiscing that we come to understand our lives. Indeed, in the
current “life review” movement, much is made of sharing stories from the past with others, of bringing back into public focus not only the
many selves one has lived, and the many adventures and mishaps, but as well the many loved ones who have helped us to find meaning to
our lives. In sum, the best advice seems to be: move within all registers of time – present, past, and future - and from them draw
rich resources for living.
Mary and Ken Gergen

We have reported a number of studies over the years that emphasize the importance to one’s well-being of having a network of
supportive people. The present research gives a new twist to this work, in its focus on those who give support to others. There is great
joy to be had in furnishing warm, helpful, and uplifting support to others. Granted this is also a good thing to do in general. However,
the present research suggests that one may also be doing good things for oneself. Giving support enhances one’s feelings of being active and
ethically involved in the world.

This study used data from the Social Networks in Adult Life survey, a national sample of over 600 older adults. Questions were
first asked about how much support they gave to others (e.g. caring for them if ill, reassuring them in times of trouble, talking with them
about their health). Further questions dealt with their own general sense of well-being (e.g. whether they were bored, depressed, proud,
excited). As the results indicated, there was a robust relationship between amount of support given to others, and one’s own sense of
well-being. Especially significant to well-being was the amount of support given to friends and family. Of course, these findings are
correlational, and it is also quite possible that those who feel on top of the world about themselves are more likely to support others.

The research went on to explore the relationship between wellbeing and how much support one received. Receiving support in
general proved less important to well-being than giving, except when received from a spouse or sibling. (Interestingly, receiving support
from children was negatively related to well-being). Finally, it is important to note that giving too much support to too many others
also had its limits. People often felt frustrated and fatigued. It is important to avoid “burn out” in giving support to others.

From: Is it better to give or to receive? Social support and the wellbeing of older adults by Patricia A. Thomas. Journal of Gerontology,
Social Sciences, 2010, 65B(3), 351-357.

In the past few years cognitive intervention has become a popular topic for the public and for researchers. The central question
is whether specialized training can minimize or erase cognitive deficits that are often found. This report concerns the ACTIVE study
(Advanced Cognitive Training in Independent and Vital Elders), supported by the National Institute on Aging and the National
Institute of Nursing Research, in which elders undertook training programs related to enhancing cognitive abilities. The question was
whether the program would help people lead better lives beyond the learning sessions.

The study included people ages 65 and older from multiple backgrounds. The participants lived independently in a community,
and not in an institution. Altogether 2,800 adults, with a mean age of 74, in six sites, were included in the study. There were two different
kinds of training groups, along with a no-contact control group. Each training group met for 10 sessions of 60-90 minutes, twice a week.
People were tested immediately after training, and one, two, thee, and five years after training.

Results indicated that the training successfully produced longterm effects. Even after 10 hours of skill training, participants showed
a significant advantage when compared to people who had no training. The same pattern held for all of the training groups. The
researchers wondered, however, if the training mattered outside the research setting. Did it make a difference in everyday life? Although
it was difficult to answer this question for the overall sample, about a half of the participants received booster training of 4 sessions in the
first and third year of the study. These people were most likely to have a transfer effect into their daily lives. Those with only the
introductory training were not as likely to carry what they learned over to everyday life over the years.

The researchers concluded that “the more the better” in terms of transferring skills from training to everyday life. Complex leisure
pursuits, including video games and vigorous sports, are also helpful in preventing cognitive decline in aging. The ultimate hope is to
develop training programs that can rehabilitate or counteract various forms of dementia.

From: Intervening with Late-Life Cognition: Lessons from the ACTIVE study by Michael Marsiske. Sponsored by MindAlert, a joint
program of American Society on Aging and the MetLife Foundation. 2009.

It is becoming old news to readers of this newsletter that emotional stability and happiness generally improve in the later
years. This review article punctuates the point: “As people age, they are less troubled by stress and anger, and although worry persists,
without increasing until middle age, it too fades after the age of 50.” These findings are part of a 2008 telephone survey by Gallop of a
representative sample of almost 350,000 people, ages 18-85. Among the questions was a query about how they felt during the preceding
day. Those most stressed out were between 22-25; anger tapered off after 18; and sadness wavered, up in the forties, down in the fifties
and sixties, and rising up again in the mid-70’s. Happiness was highest at 20 and the early 70’s. Men and women had similar
patterns, although women reported somewhat more stress, worry and sadness over-all. Again it was noted that older people are more
effective at regulating their emotions than younger people, and they recall fewer negative memories.

“It’s getting better all the time: Happiness, well- being increase after 50 by Katherine Harmon. Scientific American, May 17, 2010.

Music is the pathway to the heart, the poets say, and an important pathway to the brain, according to researchers studying
people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Among the benefits of playing music are the relaxing and motivating properties, but even more of
interest is the way in which music can open up the past for people who normally have difficulties in remembering things.

Researchers at the University of California-Davis have noticed that the areas of the brain that support memories also process
familiar music and emotions. This area of the brain remains intact despite disruptions in other parts of it. According to Petre Janata,
Ph.D., playing familiar tunes can bring back memories of times associated with it.

On a more personal level, the wife of a colleague who suffered from Alzheimer’s for many years was still capable of singing her
favorite hymns from her youth when a church volunteer would come and play music on a tape recorder. They would sing along with the
recordings for an hour at a time. Despite being very handicapped in terms of her daily conversations, her memories for songs did not
diminish. It also gave her great joy to have this companionship and to be able to relate through music.

Recent research on recall suggests that people who have difficulties with short-term memory are able to retain the emotional
experience that accompanied an event. If you have a happy encounter with someone who is labeled as demented, that person
may forget that you visited, but retain a happy feeling for the rest of the day.

There is currently is a “silver surge” of baby boomers moving to Mexico to retire. Most North Americans who retire there are living in
coastal areas, and getting by comfortably on less than $1,000 a month. The major reasons for going: affordability, quality of life,
weather and proximity to the U. S. One retiree, Doug Gray, 60, a retired fire captain from California, reacted to fears that crime would
threaten the tranquility of their lives. “I’m really saddened to see coverage of Mexican crime in the media.” However, when they
moved to a condominium in Manzanillo, a port city near Puerto Vallarta, they said they felt even safer than they did in California. Cyndi Gray said, “We really love the pace. It’s slower and you can sit down there and get into the groove. I can unplug.” That’s appealing
to many people, retirees or not.

Others we have met describe colonies of Americans who enjoy the pleasures of Mexico’s vibrant and friendly culture, and who
appreciate their medical system, which is more holistic and caring than what they found up North. If there is something very troubling,
they may go back across the border to be treated, but most were very confident of their local doctors and facilities.

From Retirees find that in Mexico their money goes further by Kathleen Kirkwood, Philadelphia Inquirer, May 6,2010, E8.

Each day is an opportunity for the two of us to search for materials for the Positive Aging Newsletter. One compelling choice
for us is the retirement of Justice John Paul Stevens from the U.S. Supreme Court. He was the oldest member of the Supreme Court, and
only one Justice in the history of the court has ever served longer.

Stevens, who celebrated his 90th birthday this April, is still very active and involved in all facets of life, including his morning ritual of
playing tennis. Stevens is famous for his fast and prolific writing. “I write the first draft…. One of the tests I had for myself as to when I would retire was that if I ever got to the point that I stopped writing the first draft that would be a sign that I was no longer up to the job the way I think it should be done.” That day never came, and a final contribution to the court – challenging the majority decision - was lengthy, eloquent,
and significant.

Speaking of his long tenure as a justice, Stevens said, “It’s a wonderful job… I wouldn’t have hung around so long if I didn’t like
the job and if I didn’t think I was able to continue to do it. “ He has started to feel his age, however, “I have to notice that I get arthritis in
my left knee now and then… My game isn’t quite as good as it used to be, I have to confess.”

From all corners of the judicial world, compliments and good wishes have come to him. His voice on the court will be missed.

From: At 89, Stevens contemplates the law, and how to leave it by Adam Liptak, New York Times, April 4, 2010, 1, 4.

Author Marjory Zoet Bankson outlines a path for leaving the world of career and embarking on the “encore” period of life.
Drawing from psychologist Erik Erikson’s theory of late life generativity, Carl Jung’s views of inner life enrichment, along with
various religious traditions - including Quaker ways of listening through silence - Bankson provides guideposts for finding a new,
creative, and joyful form of living. For her such living involves introspection, but simultaneously interaction with one’s circle of
relations, and the larger community and world. The flavor of the work is best expressed in her own words:

“The gift hidden in physical aging is discovering that life is more than accomplishment, more than doing and success.”

“As you rethink retirement … in this changing world, … out of new beginnings, hope is reborn. Gladness returns, and you can find a
measure of peace and challenge in this new season of life.”

“You must choose to let some things go in order to make space for new loves, new learnings, new life.”

“Although it is important not to romanticize pain or loss, a new call can sometimes arise out of suffering, our own or our response to
someone else’s pain.”

“Vision comes from knowing what we want. At this stage of life we do not have to wait for someone else to approve.”

“We need to look carefully at the points where our energy seems fully engaged, where and with whom we feel fully supported and
encouraged, and where the environment seems to suck energy out of us.”

“To be generative rather than despairing about the aging process requires that we see our lives … as part of a greater story that
will last beyond our particular time and place.”

The author’s wisdom is inspiring. MG

The Spiral of the Seasons: Welcoming the Gifts of Later Life by John G. Sullivan, Second Journey Publications, 2009. www.secondjourney.org.

This is a lovely book, written by an emeritus philosophy professor from Elon University in North Carolina. Divided into the
seasons, we read of Spring’s Stirrings, Summer’s Fullness, Autumn’s Way, and Winter’s Gifts. In a diversity of modes, Dr. Sullivan
involves the reader in an appreciation of the virtues of aging. Story telling, Zen koans, and a gathering of wisdom from poets, sages, and
friends enlarge the interpretations of important aspects of life, including forgiveness, openness, serenity, and happiness. MG

From Mike Milstein:
I’m a subscriber to your wonderful Positive Aging newsletter. I'd like to tell your readers about a book I recently
wrote: Resilient Aging: Making the Most of Your Older Years (2010), Universe. It was wonderful to read your review from the
Gerontologist focusing on resiliency and quality of life in older age. Sure fits my biases! For interested readers, my book on
resilient aging is available with Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc.

Judy Worrell writes:
I am finding many ways to experience joy in my later life. After two years of widowhood and loss of my dearest dog, I
adopted a new dog. She is an older dog, so we two older ladies trot at 7 AM every morning for a 45 minute walk around my
beautiful rural neighborhood. We admire the green yards and budding flowers, and she (not I) sniffs at everything sniffable.
That slows us down somewhat, but gives me time to appreciate that I am still mobile, and that every moment is to be
appreciated and enjoyed. Joy is not hard to find. I also have a few good friends left: the clue to this is to choose friends who
are younger than oneself, since those of my age have mainly gone on. And I wish all of your readers much joy in their lives,
it exists all around them.

Readers ask if they may reprint or circulate materials published in this newsletter. We are most pleased for any expansion in circulation.
You are free to use any or all that you find in the newsletter, but trust that you will acknowledge the Newsletter as the source.

The 6th World Ageing & Generations Congress in 2010 will take place between the 25th and 28th of August 2010 in St. Gallen,
Switzerland. As in the past years the congress will be a platform where Academia, Business, Policy makers and Practitioners from
different fields come together to share their experience and expertise to cope with the challenges of demographic change. Topics be
addressed in 2010 in cooperation with our partners include, Product Development and Design, Using the Experience of the Older Worker,
Quality of Life and Health, Healthcare Reform, Dementia, and Geopolitics. For more information, csutter@wdaforum.org

September 30-October 2, 2010 AARP presents Orlando@50+, Speakers, exhibits, concerts, all designed to enhance the health and
happiness of mature adults. Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida. Information at www.aarp.org/events or 1-800-
883-2784.

November 19-23, 2010: The Gerontological Society of America. 63rdAnnual Scientific Meeting, Across the Aging Continuum, New
Orleans, LA www.geron.org/2010

]]>
May/June, 2010
THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER
http://www.healthandage.com
www.taosinstitute.net
The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen, dedicated to productive dialogue between research and practice.
Sponsored by the Web-based Health Education Foundation and the Taos Institute.
“THE BEST IN…INSIGHTS IN AGING”
Wall Street Journal
Issue No 62
COMMENTARY: Time and Life Enrichment
RESEARCH:
The Joys of Giving Support
Cognitive Training Can Make a Difference
IN THE NEWS:
Fruits of Age: Emotional Well-Being
The Wonders of Music
The Attraction of Retiring to Mexico
A Farewell to Justice Stevens
BOOK REVIEWS:
Creative Aging, by Marjory Zoet Bankson
The Spiral of the Seasons, by John G. Sullivan
READERS RESPOND
OPEN INVITATION
UPCOMING EVENTS
Information for Readers
COMMENTARY Time and Life Enrichment
A common maxim, offered by sages from many times and places, is to live in the moment, one day at a time. There is much to
be said for this advice, but in our view it is far too limited. There are also riches to be derived from immersing oneself in times past, as well
as engaging energetically in future time. In effect, engaging in all three dimensions of time – present, past, future – offers the greatest
riches. Consider for a moment the upward limits of “living in the present.” We were both struck by a poem entitled “A Maxim” by Carl
Dennis in the June 7 issue of The New Yorker. Dennis notes that it was Marcus Aurelius who first gets credit for the injunction to “live
each day as if it might be the last.” However, as the poem wryly suggests, this might entail working on one’s will in the morning, and
saying goodbye to dear ones the rest of the day. After awhile, the poet notes, most people would try desperately to avoid you. Rather, he
suggests that we take an hour each day to pay our bills, forgive someone, or write a letter of thanks or apology. He ends by suggesting
that one think of the future:
“No shame in a ticket to a concert seven months off,
Or, better yet, two tickets, as if you were hoping
To meet by then someone who’d love to join you,
Two seats near the front so you catch each note.”
This last suggestion has a serious side as well. As research reported in earlier Newsletters indicates, by investing in the future we become
more active, engaged, and alert. Life is both lengthened and animated.
Yet, there are untold riches to be derived from looking backward as well. As theologian Soren Kierkegaard once wrote, “Life
can only be understood backwards.” It is in the process of reminiscing that we come to understand our lives. Indeed, in the
current “life review” movement, much is made of sharing stories from the past with others, of bringing back into public focus not only the
many selves one has lived, and the many adventures and mishaps, but as well the many loved ones who have helped us to find meaning to
our lives. In sum, the best advice seems to be: move within all registers of time – present, past, and future - and from them draw
rich resources for living.
Mary and Ken Gergen
RESEARCH: The Joys of Giving Support
We have reported a number of studies over the years that emphasize the importance to one’s well-being of having a network of
supportive people. The present research gives a new twist to this work, in its focus on those who give support to others. There is great
joy to be had in furnishing warm, helpful, and uplifting support to others. Granted this is also a good thing to do in general. However,
the present research suggests that one may also be doing good things for oneself. Giving support enhances one’s feelings of being active and
ethically involved in the world.
This study used data from the Social Networks in Adult Life survey, a national sample of over 600 older adults. Questions were
first asked about how much support they gave to others (e.g. caring for them if ill, reassuring them in times

A common maxim, offered by sages from many times and places, is to live in the moment, one day at a time. There is much to
be said for this advice, but in our view it is far too limited. There are also riches to be derived from immersing oneself in times past, as well
as engaging energetically in future time. In effect, engaging in all three dimensions of time – present, past, future – offers the greatest
riches. Consider for a moment the upward limits of “living in the present.” We were both struck by a poem entitled “A Maxim” by Carl
Dennis in the June 7 issue of The New Yorker. Dennis notes that it was Marcus Aurelius who first gets credit for the injunction to “live
each day as if it might be the last.” However, as the poem wryly suggests, this might entail working on one’s will in the morning, and
saying goodbye to dear ones the rest of the day. After awhile, the poet notes, most people would try desperately to avoid you. Rather, he
suggests that we take an hour each day to pay our bills, forgive someone, or write a letter of thanks or apology. He ends by suggesting
that one think of the future:

“No shame in a ticket to a concert seven months off,
Or, better yet, two tickets, as if you were hoping
To meet by then someone who’d love to join you,
Two seats near the front so you catch each note.”

This last suggestion has a serious side as well. As research reported in earlier Newsletters indicates, by investing in the future we become
more active, engaged, and alert. Life is both lengthened and animated.

Yet, there are untold riches to be derived from looking backward as well. As theologian Soren Kierkegaard once wrote, “Life
can only be understood backwards.” It is in the process of reminiscing that we come to understand our lives. Indeed, in the
current “life review” movement, much is made of sharing stories from the past with others, of bringing back into public focus not only the
many selves one has lived, and the many adventures and mishaps, but as well the many loved ones who have helped us to find meaning to
our lives. In sum, the best advice seems to be: move within all registers of time – present, past, and future - and from them draw
rich resources for living.
Mary and Ken Gergen

We have reported a number of studies over the years that emphasize the importance to one’s well-being of having a network of
supportive people. The present research gives a new twist to this work, in its focus on those who give support to others. There is great
joy to be had in furnishing warm, helpful, and uplifting support to others. Granted this is also a good thing to do in general. However,
the present research suggests that one may also be doing good things for oneself. Giving support enhances one’s feelings of being active and
ethically involved in the world.

This study used data from the Social Networks in Adult Life survey, a national sample of over 600 older adults. Questions were
first asked about how much support they gave to others (e.g. caring for them if ill, reassuring them in times of trouble, talking with them
about their health). Further questions dealt with their own general sense of well-being (e.g. whether they were bored, depressed, proud,
excited). As the results indicated, there was a robust relationship between amount of support given to others, and one’s own sense of
well-being. Especially significant to well-being was the amount of support given to friends and family. Of course, these findings are
correlational, and it is also quite possible that those who feel on top of the world about themselves are more likely to support others.

The research went on to explore the relationship between wellbeing and how much support one received. Receiving support in
general proved less important to well-being than giving, except when received from a spouse or sibling. (Interestingly, receiving support
from children was negatively related to well-being). Finally, it is important to note that giving too much support to too many others
also had its limits. People often felt frustrated and fatigued. It is important to avoid “burn out” in giving support to others.

From: Is it better to give or to receive? Social support and the wellbeing of older adults by Patricia A. Thomas. Journal of Gerontology,
Social Sciences, 2010, 65B(3), 351-357.

In the past few years cognitive intervention has become a popular topic for the public and for researchers. The central question
is whether specialized training can minimize or erase cognitive deficits that are often found. This report concerns the ACTIVE study
(Advanced Cognitive Training in Independent and Vital Elders), supported by the National Institute on Aging and the National
Institute of Nursing Research, in which elders undertook training programs related to enhancing cognitive abilities. The question was
whether the program would help people lead better lives beyond the learning sessions.

The study included people ages 65 and older from multiple backgrounds. The participants lived independently in a community,
and not in an institution. Altogether 2,800 adults, with a mean age of 74, in six sites, were included in the study. There were two different
kinds of training groups, along with a no-contact control group. Each training group met for 10 sessions of 60-90 minutes, twice a week.
People were tested immediately after training, and one, two, thee, and five years after training.

Results indicated that the training successfully produced longterm effects. Even after 10 hours of skill training, participants showed
a significant advantage when compared to people who had no training. The same pattern held for all of the training groups. The
researchers wondered, however, if the training mattered outside the research setting. Did it make a difference in everyday life? Although
it was difficult to answer this question for the overall sample, about a half of the participants received booster training of 4 sessions in the
first and third year of the study. These people were most likely to have a transfer effect into their daily lives. Those with only the
introductory training were not as likely to carry what they learned over to everyday life over the years.

The researchers concluded that “the more the better” in terms of transferring skills from training to everyday life. Complex leisure
pursuits, including video games and vigorous sports, are also helpful in preventing cognitive decline in aging. The ultimate hope is to
develop training programs that can rehabilitate or counteract various forms of dementia.

From: Intervening with Late-Life Cognition: Lessons from the ACTIVE study by Michael Marsiske. Sponsored by MindAlert, a joint
program of American Society on Aging and the MetLife Foundation. 2009.

It is becoming old news to readers of this newsletter that emotional stability and happiness generally improve in the later
years. This review article punctuates the point: “As people age, they are less troubled by stress and anger, and although worry persists,
without increasing until middle age, it too fades after the age of 50.” These findings are part of a 2008 telephone survey by Gallop of a
representative sample of almost 350,000 people, ages 18-85. Among the questions was a query about how they felt during the preceding
day. Those most stressed out were between 22-25; anger tapered off after 18; and sadness wavered, up in the forties, down in the fifties
and sixties, and rising up again in the mid-70’s. Happiness was highest at 20 and the early 70’s. Men and women had similar
patterns, although women reported somewhat more stress, worry and sadness over-all. Again it was noted that older people are more
effective at regulating their emotions than younger people, and they recall fewer negative memories.

“It’s getting better all the time: Happiness, well- being increase after 50 by Katherine Harmon. Scientific American, May 17, 2010.

Music is the pathway to the heart, the poets say, and an important pathway to the brain, according to researchers studying
people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Among the benefits of playing music are the relaxing and motivating properties, but even more of
interest is the way in which music can open up the past for people who normally have difficulties in remembering things.

Researchers at the University of California-Davis have noticed that the areas of the brain that support memories also process
familiar music and emotions. This area of the brain remains intact despite disruptions in other parts of it. According to Petre Janata,
Ph.D., playing familiar tunes can bring back memories of times associated with it.

On a more personal level, the wife of a colleague who suffered from Alzheimer’s for many years was still capable of singing her
favorite hymns from her youth when a church volunteer would come and play music on a tape recorder. They would sing along with the
recordings for an hour at a time. Despite being very handicapped in terms of her daily conversations, her memories for songs did not
diminish. It also gave her great joy to have this companionship and to be able to relate through music.

Recent research on recall suggests that people who have difficulties with short-term memory are able to retain the emotional
experience that accompanied an event. If you have a happy encounter with someone who is labeled as demented, that person
may forget that you visited, but retain a happy feeling for the rest of the day.

There is currently is a “silver surge” of baby boomers moving to Mexico to retire. Most North Americans who retire there are living in
coastal areas, and getting by comfortably on less than $1,000 a month. The major reasons for going: affordability, quality of life,
weather and proximity to the U. S. One retiree, Doug Gray, 60, a retired fire captain from California, reacted to fears that crime would
threaten the tranquility of their lives. “I’m really saddened to see coverage of Mexican crime in the media.” However, when they
moved to a condominium in Manzanillo, a port city near Puerto Vallarta, they said they felt even safer than they did in California. Cyndi Gray said, “We really love the pace. It’s slower and you can sit down there and get into the groove. I can unplug.” That’s appealing
to many people, retirees or not.

Others we have met describe colonies of Americans who enjoy the pleasures of Mexico’s vibrant and friendly culture, and who
appreciate their medical system, which is more holistic and caring than what they found up North. If there is something very troubling,
they may go back across the border to be treated, but most were very confident of their local doctors and facilities.

From Retirees find that in Mexico their money goes further by Kathleen Kirkwood, Philadelphia Inquirer, May 6,2010, E8.

Each day is an opportunity for the two of us to search for materials for the Positive Aging Newsletter. One compelling choice
for us is the retirement of Justice John Paul Stevens from the U.S. Supreme Court. He was the oldest member of the Supreme Court, and
only one Justice in the history of the court has ever served longer.

Stevens, who celebrated his 90th birthday this April, is still very active and involved in all facets of life, including his morning ritual of
playing tennis. Stevens is famous for his fast and prolific writing. “I write the first draft…. One of the tests I had for myself as to when I would retire was that if I ever got to the point that I stopped writing the first draft that would be a sign that I was no longer up to the job the way I think it should be done.” That day never came, and a final contribution to the court – challenging the majority decision - was lengthy, eloquent,
and significant.

Speaking of his long tenure as a justice, Stevens said, “It’s a wonderful job… I wouldn’t have hung around so long if I didn’t like
the job and if I didn’t think I was able to continue to do it. “ He has started to feel his age, however, “I have to notice that I get arthritis in
my left knee now and then… My game isn’t quite as good as it used to be, I have to confess.”

From all corners of the judicial world, compliments and good wishes have come to him. His voice on the court will be missed.

From: At 89, Stevens contemplates the law, and how to leave it by Adam Liptak, New York Times, April 4, 2010, 1, 4.

Author Marjory Zoet Bankson outlines a path for leaving the world of career and embarking on the “encore” period of life.
Drawing from psychologist Erik Erikson’s theory of late life generativity, Carl Jung’s views of inner life enrichment, along with
various religious traditions - including Quaker ways of listening through silence - Bankson provides guideposts for finding a new,
creative, and joyful form of living. For her such living involves introspection, but simultaneously interaction with one’s circle of
relations, and the larger community and world. The flavor of the work is best expressed in her own words:

“The gift hidden in physical aging is discovering that life is more than accomplishment, more than doing and success.”

“As you rethink retirement … in this changing world, … out of new beginnings, hope is reborn. Gladness returns, and you can find a
measure of peace and challenge in this new season of life.”

“You must choose to let some things go in order to make space for new loves, new learnings, new life.”

“Although it is important not to romanticize pain or loss, a new call can sometimes arise out of suffering, our own or our response to
someone else’s pain.”

“Vision comes from knowing what we want. At this stage of life we do not have to wait for someone else to approve.”

“We need to look carefully at the points where our energy seems fully engaged, where and with whom we feel fully supported and
encouraged, and where the environment seems to suck energy out of us.”

“To be generative rather than despairing about the aging process requires that we see our lives … as part of a greater story that
will last beyond our particular time and place.”

The author’s wisdom is inspiring. MG

The Spiral of the Seasons: Welcoming the Gifts of Later Life by John G. Sullivan, Second Journey Publications, 2009. www.secondjourney.org.

This is a lovely book, written by an emeritus philosophy professor from Elon University in North Carolina. Divided into the
seasons, we read of Spring’s Stirrings, Summer’s Fullness, Autumn’s Way, and Winter’s Gifts. In a diversity of modes, Dr. Sullivan
involves the reader in an appreciation of the virtues of aging. Story telling, Zen koans, and a gathering of wisdom from poets, sages, and
friends enlarge the interpretations of important aspects of life, including forgiveness, openness, serenity, and happiness. MG

From Mike Milstein:
I’m a subscriber to your wonderful Positive Aging newsletter. I'd like to tell your readers about a book I recently
wrote: Resilient Aging: Making the Most of Your Older Years (2010), Universe. It was wonderful to read your review from the
Gerontologist focusing on resiliency and quality of life in older age. Sure fits my biases! For interested readers, my book on
resilient aging is available with Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc.

Judy Worrell writes:
I am finding many ways to experience joy in my later life. After two years of widowhood and loss of my dearest dog, I
adopted a new dog. She is an older dog, so we two older ladies trot at 7 AM every morning for a 45 minute walk around my
beautiful rural neighborhood. We admire the green yards and budding flowers, and she (not I) sniffs at everything sniffable.
That slows us down somewhat, but gives me time to appreciate that I am still mobile, and that every moment is to be
appreciated and enjoyed. Joy is not hard to find. I also have a few good friends left: the clue to this is to choose friends who
are younger than oneself, since those of my age have mainly gone on. And I wish all of your readers much joy in their lives,
it exists all around them.

Readers ask if they may reprint or circulate materials published in this newsletter. We are most pleased for any expansion in circulation.
You are free to use any or all that you find in the newsletter, but trust that you will acknowledge the Newsletter as the source.

The 6th World Ageing & Generations Congress in 2010 will take place between the 25th and 28th of August 2010 in St. Gallen,
Switzerland. As in the past years the congress will be a platform where Academia, Business, Policy makers and Practitioners from
different fields come together to share their experience and expertise to cope with the challenges of demographic change. Topics be
addressed in 2010 in cooperation with our partners include, Product Development and Design, Using the Experience of the Older Worker,
Quality of Life and Health, Healthcare Reform, Dementia, and Geopolitics. For more information, csutter@wdaforum.org

September 30-October 2, 2010 AARP presents Orlando@50+, Speakers, exhibits, concerts, all designed to enhance the health and
happiness of mature adults. Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida. Information at www.aarp.org/events or 1-800-
883-2784.

November 19-23, 2010: The Gerontological Society of America. 63rdAnnual Scientific Meeting, Across the Aging Continuum, New
Orleans, LA www.geron.org/2010

We commonly believe there is a disease called Alzheimer’s and treat those who are ill as patients. In effect, we think of Alzheimer’s as just another medical illness, like cancer or polio. Yet, there is growing opinion that such beliefs are both unwarranted and unhelpful. Consider, for example, the work of Peter Whitehouse, a doctor who has spent 30 years of professional life carrying out research, (including drug studies), reviewing medical journals, and treating those diagnosed with the disease. His conclusion is that the disease model is not only wrong, but inhumane and even immoral. In their new book, The Myth of Alzheimer’s, he and Daniel George suggest that we reconsider the aging process, particularly the normal ways in which the brain changes under various living conditions. Depending on such factor as physical and mental exercise, smoking, and diet, for example, these changes may be more or less debilitating. The dominant medical view is that this disease can be treated with drugs and that, with enough money, the pharmaceutical industry will provide the cure. Rather, Whitehouse and George propose we would do better to focus on what we can do to improve our brain’s health, accept that our bodies have limitations, and resist our biggest enemy as we age, fear!

As they write, “Reframing Alzheimer’s disease as brain aging and thus fundamentally altering the story we tell about cognitive loss can have profound effects on ourselves, our loved ones, our communities, our government policy, and our commerce. By placing ourselves on the continuum of brain aging and seeing it as a lifelong undertaking rather than an end-of-life ‘disease’ we’ll find solidarity with all the vulnerable members in our society – from our children to our elders.”

Other professionals support and extend this view. Anthea Inne’s Dementia Studies, also stresses the importance of challenging assumptions. She looks especially at the political, economic, social and cultural issues that influence the perspectives on patients and their caregivers. She sees a stereotypic degradation of people with dementia, one that affects how they are cared for, and how their caregivers perceive themselves. This concern with stereotyping is extended in Lisa Snyder’s Speaking our Minds: What it’s like to have Alzheimer’s. The Alzheimer’s diagnosis, in her view, invites an insensitivity to the patient’s capacities for awareness and for their needs and desires. Those people interviewed by Snyder speak of their fear, challenges, social support systems, feelings of loneliness, means for overcoming their limits, and the joy they experience in their lives, despite their diagnosis. Perhaps the last feeling is the most surprising to those of us who take a “poor you” stance when it comes to thinking of those who labeled as having dementia. Snyder says of her interviewees, that they, “reminded me of how quickly we measure disability, deficits and differences at the risk of overlooking ability, strengths and commonality” (pg. 34). Among the strengths she notes, is the ability to find humor in a situation, even if you need someone to help you eat. Snyder suggests that in framing stories of loss, the public reinforces a malignant stereotype. Rather than this, we should understand that all people have capacities for reflection, self-awareness, and they should have a voice that is heard.

As an interesting addition, Anne Basting’s Forget Memory, challenges the centrality of “remembering” in our culture. She suggests that the stress on memory and its loss omits a focus on the imagination, which is a capacity that often can be found with people who have lost some of their other cognitive abilities. Various programs can help people improve their imaginations. She suggested that these programs emphasize the value of being in the present, something patients are often good at. She also emphasizes the relational nature of memory, as something existing between people, not within them. Favored programs include StoryCorps, Memory Bridge, TimeSlips, Meet Me at MOMA, Elders Share the Arts, as well as songwriting and visual arts groups.

Seasoned researcher Laura Carstensen has long been identified with research on emotion and aging. In this review, she and her colleague Susanne Scheibe synthesize the research on emotional processing and regulation, that is, how people deal with experiences that have a high emotional significance.

Stereotypically, older people are often thought to be sad, depressed and lonely. However, this assumption is deeply flawed. Despite challenges from cognitive, physical and social sources, most older people for most of their remaining years, are well-adjusted and emotionally well-balanced. Older people tend to be happier and more emotionally stable than their younger counterparts.

Research suggests that on average, older people tend to pay more attention to positive news and less to negative information. This finding has been found for attention, memory and decision-making tasks. The exception to this positivity bias is when older people are exposed to an immediately threatening situation; then the bias is not found. In terms of emotional regulation, older people score higher than young adults on three of four aspects of the emotional intelligence test. These factors are facilitating, understanding, and managing emotions.

Much of the elder advantage lies in the manner in which they select their environments and prepare for emotionally intense experiences before they occur. Possibly this imaginative rehearsal is a reason why older people are less responsive to many emotionally arousing events than younger people. (They are not less affected, for example, when confronted with the loss of a loved one. Here, older people express more sadness and are as physiologically aroused as younger people). Older people tend to prefer social situations with familiar others, and to spend less time with strangers, avoid confrontations and situations that are hostile, and they seem to take more complex views of troubling situations than younger people. This helps them to reduce conflicting emotions. One might say they are more likely see the world through rose-colored glasses, which may impair their ability to detect deception and fraud.

One possible explanation for this positivity is that because of their long experience at emotional regulation, older people become increasingly skilled at dealing with intense situations. They may also become increasingly motivated to use these skills as they sense that “time is running out.” Given that the future trajectory is shorter, it becomes more important to enjoy every day, and not suffer the day for some longer term goal, as younger people often do when they are working toward some future reward, such as an advanced degree. Only when confronted with immanent death does this upbeat attitude tend to decline.

Overall, the emotional life of older people has much to recommend it, and it is something that younger people might envy and look forward to as they age.

Since February was the celebration of Valentines, spring brings themes of fertility, and June is the month of weddings, many thoughts turn to love and romance; now, given our new practices of internet social networking, it is interesting to ask what the trends in online dating are among older people. What are people seeking, and how do their choices compare with the younger generations who are also online looking for a match?

In this research, 600 personal emails regarding romantic partnering from four groups of people, divided by age (20-34; 40-54; 60-74 and 75+) were studied. All were seeking someone of the opposite sex; 84% were Caucasian; 38% had college degrees, and with increasing age, people were more likely to be widowed and/or retired from active employment. All participants were recruited from Yahoo!Personals ads, and agreed to fill out a questionnaire. In the first section of the questionnaire, people described themselves and their ideal match, using multiple choice answers to questions about appearance, ethnicity, religion, income, etc. In the second part, they wrote a small essay, “In My Own Words”, in which they described themselves and their desired other.

According to the research findings, at all ages, men desired women who were younger than themselves. In addition, the older the man, the greater the discrepancy between his age and the desired partner’s. Thus, for example, a 20 year old man may prefer a woman who is no older than 19, a 30 year old man prefers a woman who is no more than 25, and a 60 year old man prefers a woman who is no older than 45. Women consistently preferred a man who was older than themselves, until age 75; at that time, women turned the tables and sought men who were younger than they were. The researchers were surprised that women who were younger than 75 still preferred an older man, given that other research has indicated that women say they do not want to be caretakers or be widowed another time.

Further, women of all ages wanted a man who had a fairly high status. The researchers suggested that women were “pickier” when it came to selecting a partner than men were. More often than men, women had specific requirements in mind in terms of describing their ideal mate. Men, it seemed, were more eager to re-partner than women were. This, of course, is very wise, given that marriage is advantageous for living longer and better than being alone, especially for men.

IN THE NEWS:

Al Chagan, 67, describes himself as a serial entrepreneur who has spent his recent years in turning used “stuff” into profit. His stores, called “Impact Thrift Stores, Inc.”, which are located in three towns in the Philadelphia area, sell “gently used” clothing and household goods. Profits from the sales are then given out to charitable organizations in the area. In 2009, Impact donated $173,000 to 20 local charities, and by the end of 2010, the amount will exceed $1,000,000.

The stores are staffed by 95 full and part-time workers. Some of those who work in the store have been sentenced by the courts to community service. At the stores they learn good work habits and make contributions to the community. Jon Walsh, 18, was sent to Impact three years ago to perform 20 hours of community service for skipping school. He enjoyed his experience enough that he continues to work there after school, unloading trucks and sorting goods. For Walsh, “It is like a second family.” Throughout the year about 35 students participate in an education program generated at Impact. An additional 200 students contribute their time to Impact as volunteers. Their work allows the business to thrive with moderate prices, and they help generate the profits that go to charity.

Al Chagan, who has a degree in economics from Colgate University and an MBA from American University, has no interest in retirement from active employment. He is not envious of his former classmates who are more occupied by the golf course than a business. “I would hate being retired. To be able to be involved in something like this, something that counts and that I enjoy, is a real blessing at my age, the icing on the cake.”

Diabetes 2 is no stranger to the senior set. Yet, there are some “fun” ways to eat and drink that seem to reduce the risk of getting it. According the “Healthy Eating for Type 2 Diabetes,” a publication of the Harvard Medical School, drinking coffee cuts diabetes risk by up to 42% and drinking alcohol drops diabetes risk by up to 43%. Dr. David Nathan, Director of Massachusetts General Hospital’s Diabetes Center, advises people to eat in ways that they can live with. Ideally, this would mean lots of produce, whole grains, lean protein and healthy fats, with a minimal amount of refined sugars, refined starches, red meat and salt.

From: Preventing diabetes- the fun way by John Briley, AARP The Magazine, November, 2009, 34.

As we age, we encounter more and more situations when someone has lost a loved one. What are the best things to say when we meet a friend or colleague in this situation? Joel D. Feldman writes from his personal experience, having lost a child. These are his views on what are good things to say to someone who is grieving:

While “How are you doing?” is a familiar comment, he found it difficult to answer, and suggests that “How are you doing today?” is a more helpful question to ask.

“What can I say” doesn’t do much, but “I was thinking of you and your family” does feel helpful.
Just listening the other person when they feel like talking is a great help. It is not so important to always have something to say.

While some people are afraid to mention the loss, Feldman finds that he appreciates people speaking about his daughter. It is a way of keeping her alive in memories.

He also suggests that people do not judge how others grieve. Sometimes it is possible to laugh and live normally despite a loss.

Some people believe that the grieving person wants to be left alone. For him, having others come around and connect with him was very helpful. He never felt intruded upon.

When is it too late to send a card? Never, he feels. Right after a loss, there are many messages of condolences, but as they taper off, the world seems an even lonelier place to be.

Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, 59, the pilot who landed on the Hudson River in New York, after geese were sucked into the engines of his US AIR plane, January 15, 2009, has completed the final flight in his career. Prior to the emergency landing, he had never planned to retire. He isn’t stepping away from flying because he has lost his desire to fly, but, as he said, “I’m retiring from the airline so I can use my time on other issues of great importance of this moment.” His major focus is related to making flying safer. Being a pilot is more difficult today, he believes, than when he started 30 years ago. At the same time, “There is so much pressure to hire people with less experience. [Pilot] salaries are so low that people with greater experience will not take those jobs….There’s simply no substitute for experience in terms of aviation safety.” Besides spending more time with family and writing another book, Sullenberger plans to lobby lawmakers about raising minimum qualifications for pilots and lowering the number of hours pilots can fly on a single day. Retirement for “Sully” does not mean being less involved with the world, but, rather, working in a new capacity to save more lives than the 150 that accompanied him that fateful day last January.

Gourmet Aging: How to Find Sugar and Spice in Retirement, by Martin Kimeldorf (2003). (Search the internet for Martin Kimeldorf for this and other books he has written on positive aging)

Gourmet Aging is about developing a new plan for entering a new stage of life, one that might be called Elderhood. The hope is that this period of life will help you flavor an emerging identity with jubilation rather than angst. To stimulate your memories and imaginations, each chapter contains “sunrise” exercises, which help you to find new ways to pursue your second career in life. Some of the questions that author Martin Kimeldorf asks readers to ponder are: Where do I fit into the world now? How can I rediscover the passionate feelings I had when I was younger? Is it OK to play? What is expected of me? What it is all about?

Kimeldorf describes his book as a cookbook, with no set recipe for a graceful, grateful and gratifying old age. Rather, he offers opportunities for readers to design their own menu for a positive future, with helpful hints for exploring their own particular history of dreams and deeds. The text combines information about various historical accounts and demographic facts with cleverly written stories and creative activities for the reader to use to stimulate thoughts. As the Germans might say, “Guten Appetit”!

Mike Sands writes: “I have led a program called Winning Words -- at the start we ask people to ask each other, "Tell me about an experience you loved". The best breakthroughs that have occurred were when people found that expressing their answers to the question lifted their own spirits - over and over and over again; and it seems that feeling that response helped them ask the question of others (and that felt good too)”

Georgie Bright Kunkel writes: “At age 89 I just received my first pay for standup comedy. I also got my first chance to be the headliner at a comedy night at Seattle Comedy Underground. My secret to remaining involved in the greater world is to take on a new challenge every so often. As a result of being the Oldest Standup Comic in the Northwest I was featured on our local Television Station , Channel 5, on their Evening Magazine. What a thrill.”

Jim Henry writes, “Greetings. FYI, my article, ‘The Androgynous Spirituality of Seasoned Humans,’ has been published by the Canadian Gerontological Nurses Association at:

Readers ask if they may reprint or circulate materials published in this newsletter. We are most pleased for any expansion in circulation. You are free to use any or all that you find in the newsletter, but trust that you will acknowledge the Newsletter as the source.

The 6th World Ageing & Generations Congress in 2010 will take place between the 25th and 28th of August 2010 in St. Gallen, Switzerland. As in the past years the congress will be a platform where Academia, Business, Policy makers and Practitioners from different fields come together to share their experience and expertise to cope with the challenges of demographic change. Topics be addressed in 2010 in cooperation with our partners include Product Development and Design, Using the Experience of the Older Worker, Quality of Life and Health, Healthcare Reform, Dementia, and Geopolitics.

]]>
March/April, 2010
THE POSITIVE AGING NEWSLETTER
http://www.healthandage.com
www.taosinstitute.net
The Positive Aging Newsletter by Kenneth and Mary Gergen, dedicated to productive dialogue between research and practice.
Sponsored by the Web-based Health Education Foundation and the Taos Institute.
“THE BEST IN…INSIGHTS IN AGING”
Wall Street Journal
Issue No 61
COMMENTARY:
Alzheimer’s: A More Promising Look
RESEARCH:
Emotional Wisdom with Age
On-Line Match Making Among Older Adults
IN THE NEWS:
Business/Charity/Joy
Preventing Diabetes – The Fun Way
Responses to Another’s Loss
Retiring: An Opportunity for Broader Engagement
BOOK REVIEWS, WEBSITES, AND HUMOR:
Gourmet Aging, by Martin Kimeldorf
READERS RESPOND
OPEN INVITATION
UPCOMING EVENTS
Information for Readers
COMMENTARY Alzheimer’s: A More Promising Look
We commonly believe there is a disease called Alzheimer’s and treat those who are ill as patients. In effect, we think of Alzheimer’s as just another medical illness, like cancer or polio. Yet, there is growing opinion that such beliefs are both unwarranted and unhelpful. Consider, for example, the work of Peter Whitehouse, a doctor who has spent 30 years of professional life carrying out research, (including drug studies), reviewing medical journals, and treating those diagnosed with the disease. His conclusion is that the disease model is not only wrong, but inhumane and even immoral. In their new book, The Myth of Alzheimer’s, he and Daniel George suggest that we reconsider the aging process, particularly the normal ways in which the brain changes under various living conditions. Depending on such factor as physical and mental exercise, smoking, and diet, for example, these changes may be more or less debilitating. The dominant medical view is that this disease can be treated with drugs and that, with enough money, the pharmaceutical industry will provide the cure. Rather, Whitehouse and George propose we would do better to focus on what we can do to improve our brain’s health, accept that our bodies have limitations, and resist our biggest enemy as we age, fear!
As they write, “Reframing Alzheimer’s disease as brain aging and thus fundamentally altering the story we tell about cognitive loss can have profound effects on ourselves, our loved ones, our communities, our government policy, and our commerce. By placing ourselves on the continuum of brain aging and seeing it as a lifelong undertaking rather than an end-of-life ‘disease’ we’ll find solidarity with all the vulnerable members in our society – from our children to our elders.”
Other professionals support and extend this view. Anthea Inne’s Dementia Studies, also stresses the importance of challenging assumptions. She looks especially at the political, economic, social and cultural issues that influence the perspectives on patients and their caregivers. She sees a stereotypic degradation of people with dementia, one that affects how they are cared for, and how their caregivers perceive themselves. This concern with stereotyping is extended in Lisa Snyder’s Speaking our Minds: What it’s like to have Alzheimer’s. The Alzheimer’s diagnosis, in her view, invites an insensitivity to the patient’s capacities for awareness and for their needs and desires. Those people interviewed by Snyder speak of their fear, challenges, social support systems, feelings of loneliness, means for overcoming their limits, and the joy they experience in their lives, despite their diagnosis. Perhaps the last feeling is the most surprising to those of us who take a “poor you” stance when it comes to thinking of those who labeled as having dementia. Snyder says of her interviewees, that they, “reminded me of how quickly we measure disability, deficits and differences at the risk of overlooking ability, strengths and commonality” (pg. 34). Among the strengths she notes, is the ability to

We commonly believe there is a disease called Alzheimer’s and treat those who are ill as patients. In effect, we think of Alzheimer’s as just another medical illness, like cancer or polio. Yet, there is growing opinion that such beliefs are both unwarranted and unhelpful. Consider, for example, the work of Peter Whitehouse, a doctor who has spent 30 years of professional life carrying out research, (including drug studies), reviewing medical journals, and treating those diagnosed with the disease. His conclusion is that the disease model is not only wrong, but inhumane and even immoral. In their new book, The Myth of Alzheimer’s, he and Daniel George suggest that we reconsider the aging process, particularly the normal ways in which the brain changes under various living conditions. Depending on such factor as physical and mental exercise, smoking, and diet, for example, these changes may be more or less debilitating. The dominant medical view is that this disease can be treated with drugs and that, with enough money, the pharmaceutical industry will provide the cure. Rather, Whitehouse and George propose we would do better to focus on what we can do to improve our brain’s health, accept that our bodies have limitations, and resist our biggest enemy as we age, fear!

As they write, “Reframing Alzheimer’s disease as brain aging and thus fundamentally altering the story we tell about cognitive loss can have profound effects on ourselves, our loved ones, our communities, our government policy, and our commerce. By placing ourselves on the continuum of brain aging and seeing it as a lifelong undertaking rather than an end-of-life ‘disease’ we’ll find solidarity with all the vulnerable members in our society – from our children to our elders.”

Other professionals support and extend this view. Anthea Inne’s Dementia Studies, also stresses the importance of challenging assumptions. She looks especially at the political, economic, social and cultural issues that influence the perspectives on patients and their caregivers. She sees a stereotypic degradation of people with dementia, one that affects how they are cared for, and how their caregivers perceive themselves. This concern with stereotyping is extended in Lisa Snyder’s Speaking our Minds: What it’s like to have Alzheimer’s. The Alzheimer’s diagnosis, in her view, invites an insensitivity to the patient’s capacities for awareness and for their needs and desires. Those people interviewed by Snyder speak of their fear, challenges, social support systems, feelings of loneliness, means for overcoming their limits, and the joy they experience in their lives, despite their diagnosis. Perhaps the last feeling is the most surprising to those of us who take a “poor you” stance when it comes to thinking of those who labeled as having dementia. Snyder says of her interviewees, that they, “reminded me of how quickly we measure disability, deficits and differences at the risk of overlooking ability, strengths and commonality” (pg. 34). Among the strengths she notes, is the ability to find humor in a situation, even if you need someone to help you eat. Snyder suggests that in framing stories of loss, the public reinforces a malignant stereotype. Rather than this, we should understand that all people have capacities for reflection, self-awareness, and they should have a voice that is heard.

As an interesting addition, Anne Basting’s Forget Memory, challenges the centrality of “remembering” in our culture. She suggests that the stress on memory and its loss omits a focus on the imagination, which is a capacity that often can be found with people who have lost some of their other cognitive abilities. Various programs can help people improve their imaginations. She suggested that these programs emphasize the value of being in the present, something patients are often good at. She also emphasizes the relational nature of memory, as something existing between people, not within them. Favored programs include StoryCorps, Memory Bridge, TimeSlips, Meet Me at MOMA, Elders Share the Arts, as well as songwriting and visual arts groups.

Seasoned researcher Laura Carstensen has long been identified with research on emotion and aging. In this review, she and her colleague Susanne Scheibe synthesize the research on emotional processing and regulation, that is, how people deal with experiences that have a high emotional significance.

Stereotypically, older people are often thought to be sad, depressed and lonely. However, this assumption is deeply flawed. Despite challenges from cognitive, physical and social sources, most older people for most of their remaining years, are well-adjusted and emotionally well-balanced. Older people tend to be happier and more emotionally stable than their younger counterparts.

Research suggests that on average, older people tend to pay more attention to positive news and less to negative information. This finding has been found for attention, memory and decision-making tasks. The exception to this positivity bias is when older people are exposed to an immediately threatening situation; then the bias is not found. In terms of emotional regulation, older people score higher than young adults on three of four aspects of the emotional intelligence test. These factors are facilitating, understanding, and managing emotions.

Much of the elder advantage lies in the manner in which they select their environments and prepare for emotionally intense experiences before they occur. Possibly this imaginative rehearsal is a reason why older people are less responsive to many emotionally arousing events than younger people. (They are not less affected, for example, when confronted with the loss of a loved one. Here, older people express more sadness and are as physiologically aroused as younger people). Older people tend to prefer social situations with familiar others, and to spend less time with strangers, avoid confrontations and situations that are hostile, and they seem to take more complex views of troubling situations than younger people. This helps them to reduce conflicting emotions. One might say they are more likely see the world through rose-colored glasses, which may impair their ability to detect deception and fraud.

One possible explanation for this positivity is that because of their long experience at emotional regulation, older people become increasingly skilled at dealing with intense situations. They may also become increasingly motivated to use these skills as they sense that “time is running out.” Given that the future trajectory is shorter, it becomes more important to enjoy every day, and not suffer the day for some longer term goal, as younger people often do when they are working toward some future reward, such as an advanced degree. Only when confronted with immanent death does this upbeat attitude tend to decline.

Overall, the emotional life of older people has much to recommend it, and it is something that younger people might envy and look forward to as they age.

Since February was the celebration of Valentines, spring brings themes of fertility, and June is the month of weddings, many thoughts turn to love and romance; now, given our new practices of internet social networking, it is interesting to ask what the trends in online dating are among older people. What are people seeking, and how do their choices compare with the younger generations who are also online looking for a match?

In this research, 600 personal emails regarding romantic partnering from four groups of people, divided by age (20-34; 40-54; 60-74 and 75+) were studied. All were seeking someone of the opposite sex; 84% were Caucasian; 38% had college degrees, and with increasing age, people were more likely to be widowed and/or retired from active employment. All participants were recruited from Yahoo!Personals ads, and agreed to fill out a questionnaire. In the first section of the questionnaire, people described themselves and their ideal match, using multiple choice answers to questions about appearance, ethnicity, religion, income, etc. In the second part, they wrote a small essay, “In My Own Words”, in which they described themselves and their desired other.

According to the research findings, at all ages, men desired women who were younger than themselves. In addition, the older the man, the greater the discrepancy between his age and the desired partner’s. Thus, for example, a 20 year old man may prefer a woman who is no older than 19, a 30 year old man prefers a woman who is no more than 25, and a 60 year old man prefers a woman who is no older than 45. Women consistently preferred a man who was older than themselves, until age 75; at that time, women turned the tables and sought men who were younger than they were. The researchers were surprised that women who were younger than 75 still preferred an older man, given that other research has indicated that women say they do not want to be caretakers or be widowed another time.

Further, women of all ages wanted a man who had a fairly high status. The researchers suggested that women were “pickier” when it came to selecting a partner than men were. More often than men, women had specific requirements in mind in terms of describing their ideal mate. Men, it seemed, were more eager to re-partner than women were. This, of course, is very wise, given that marriage is advantageous for living longer and better than being alone, especially for men.

IN THE NEWS:

Al Chagan, 67, describes himself as a serial entrepreneur who has spent his recent years in turning used “stuff” into profit. His stores, called “Impact Thrift Stores, Inc.”, which are located in three towns in the Philadelphia area, sell “gently used” clothing and household goods. Profits from the sales are then given out to charitable organizations in the area. In 2009, Impact donated $173,000 to 20 local charities, and by the end of 2010, the amount will exceed $1,000,000.

The stores are staffed by 95 full and part-time workers. Some of those who work in the store have been sentenced by the courts to community service. At the stores they learn good work habits and make contributions to the community. Jon Walsh, 18, was sent to Impact three years ago to perform 20 hours of community service for skipping school. He enjoyed his experience enough that he continues to work there after school, unloading trucks and sorting goods. For Walsh, “It is like a second family.” Throughout the year about 35 students participate in an education program generated at Impact. An additional 200 students contribute their time to Impact as volunteers. Their work allows the business to thrive with moderate prices, and they help generate the profits that go to charity.

Al Chagan, who has a degree in economics from Colgate University and an MBA from American University, has no interest in retirement from active employment. He is not envious of his former classmates who are more occupied by the golf course than a business. “I would hate being retired. To be able to be involved in something like this, something that counts and that I enjoy, is a real blessing at my age, the icing on the cake.”

Diabetes 2 is no stranger to the senior set. Yet, there are some “fun” ways to eat and drink that seem to reduce the risk of getting it. According the “Healthy Eating for Type 2 Diabetes,” a publication of the Harvard Medical School, drinking coffee cuts diabetes risk by up to 42% and drinking alcohol drops diabetes risk by up to 43%. Dr. David Nathan, Director of Massachusetts General Hospital’s Diabetes Center, advises people to eat in ways that they can live with. Ideally, this would mean lots of produce, whole grains, lean protein and healthy fats, with a minimal amount of refined sugars, refined starches, red meat and salt.

From: Preventing diabetes- the fun way by John Briley, AARP The Magazine, November, 2009, 34.

As we age, we encounter more and more situations when someone has lost a loved one. What are the best things to say when we meet a friend or colleague in this situation? Joel D. Feldman writes from his personal experience, having lost a child. These are his views on what are good things to say to someone who is grieving:

While “How are you doing?” is a familiar comment, he found it difficult to answer, and suggests that “How are you doing today?” is a more helpful question to ask.

“What can I say” doesn’t do much, but “I was thinking of you and your family” does feel helpful.
Just listening the other person when they feel like talking is a great help. It is not so important to always have something to say.

While some people are afraid to mention the loss, Feldman finds that he appreciates people speaking about his daughter. It is a way of keeping her alive in memories.

He also suggests that people do not judge how others grieve. Sometimes it is possible to laugh and live normally despite a loss.

Some people believe that the grieving person wants to be left alone. For him, having others come around and connect with him was very helpful. He never felt intruded upon.

When is it too late to send a card? Never, he feels. Right after a loss, there are many messages of condolences, but as they taper off, the world seems an even lonelier place to be.

Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, 59, the pilot who landed on the Hudson River in New York, after geese were sucked into the engines of his US AIR plane, January 15, 2009, has completed the final flight in his career. Prior to the emergency landing, he had never planned to retire. He isn’t stepping away from flying because he has lost his desire to fly, but, as he said, “I’m retiring from the airline so I can use my time on other issues of great importance of this moment.” His major focus is related to making flying safer. Being a pilot is more difficult today, he believes, than when he started 30 years ago. At the same time, “There is so much pressure to hire people with less experience. [Pilot] salaries are so low that people with greater experience will not take those jobs….There’s simply no substitute for experience in terms of aviation safety.” Besides spending more time with family and writing another book, Sullenberger plans to lobby lawmakers about raising minimum qualifications for pilots and lowering the number of hours pilots can fly on a single day. Retirement for “Sully” does not mean being less involved with the world, but, rather, working in a new capacity to save more lives than the 150 that accompanied him that fateful day last January.

Gourmet Aging: How to Find Sugar and Spice in Retirement, by Martin Kimeldorf (2003). (Search the internet for Martin Kimeldorf for this and other books he has written on positive aging)

Gourmet Aging is about developing a new plan for entering a new stage of life, one that might be called Elderhood. The hope is that this period of life will help you flavor an emerging identity with jubilation rather than angst. To stimulate your memories and imaginations, each chapter contains “sunrise” exercises, which help you to find new ways to pursue your second career in life. Some of the questions that author Martin Kimeldorf asks readers to ponder are: Where do I fit into the world now? How can I rediscover the passionate feelings I had when I was younger? Is it OK to play? What is expected of me? What it is all about?

Kimeldorf describes his book as a cookbook, with no set recipe for a graceful, grateful and gratifying old age. Rather, he offers opportunities for readers to design their own menu for a positive future, with helpful hints for exploring their own particular history of dreams and deeds. The text combines information about various historical accounts and demographic facts with cleverly written stories and creative activities for the reader to use to stimulate thoughts. As the Germans might say, “Guten Appetit”!

Mike Sands writes: “I have led a program called Winning Words -- at the start we ask people to ask each other, "Tell me about an experience you loved". The best breakthroughs that have occurred were when people found that expressing their answers to the question lifted their own spirits - over and over and over again; and it seems that feeling that response helped them ask the question of others (and that felt good too)”

Georgie Bright Kunkel writes: “At age 89 I just received my first pay for standup comedy. I also got my first chance to be the headliner at a comedy night at Seattle Comedy Underground. My secret to remaining involved in the greater world is to take on a new challenge every so often. As a result of being the Oldest Standup Comic in the Northwest I was featured on our local Television Station , Channel 5, on their Evening Magazine. What a thrill.”

Jim Henry writes, “Greetings. FYI, my article, ‘The Androgynous Spirituality of Seasoned Humans,’ has been published by the Canadian Gerontological Nurses Association at:

Readers ask if they may reprint or circulate materials published in this newsletter. We are most pleased for any expansion in circulation. You are free to use any or all that you find in the newsletter, but trust that you will acknowledge the Newsletter as the source.

The 6th World Ageing & Generations Congress in 2010 will take place between the 25th and 28th of August 2010 in St. Gallen, Switzerland. As in the past years the congress will be a platform where Academia, Business, Policy makers and Practitioners from different fields come together to share their experience and expertise to cope with the challenges of demographic change. Topics be addressed in 2010 in cooperation with our partners include Product Development and Design, Using the Experience of the Older Worker, Quality of Life and Health, Healthcare Reform, Dementia, and Geopolitics.

This represents the 60th issue of the Newsletter, a birthday of sorts, and we parents have great pleasure in seeing this child now reaching maturity. It is also an appropriate moment to re-introduce the central mission of the newsletter and to clarify how you may participate as readers. Since its inception some eight years ago, the readership of the newsletter has expanded at a rapid rate - now reaching thousands of subscribers in five languages. Subscribers include gerontologists, health related researchers, therapeutic practitioners, service providers for the elderly, and interested laypersons.

Our primary aim is to bring to light resources - from research, professional practice, and daily life - that contribute to an appreciation of the aging process. Challenging the longstanding view of aging as decline, we strive to create a vision of the life-span in which aging is an unprecedented period of human enrichment. Such a revolution vitally depends on the communities of research and professional practices that focus on adult